Critique of Technology

Technocriticism (→ Technocriticism) is a subfield of critical theory that deals with the social dimensions of technological change. It does not regard technological transformations as a neutral sequence of useful inventions or as a linear narrative of → progress, development, or → innovation. Instead, it understands technology as historically situated changes in individual as well as collective practices—from research and invention, through regulation and dissemination, to actual use and the public as well as scientific discourse around it.

Technocriticism examines the cultural, social, and practical significance of these changes. It analyzes how technology is embedded in everyday life and society, how it shapes perceptions, relationships, and scope for action—and what normative implications arise from this. A

recurring theme is the critical reflection on key concepts such as → humanity, → health, → nature, or → norm, which are challenged, shifted, or reconstituted by technological developments.

Technocritical approaches can be both descriptive and normative: In fields like Science and Technology Studies or the history of technology, the focus is often on describing and contextualizing technological processes. In areas such as technoethics, bioethics, or media criticism, however, normative assessments take center stage.

Technocriticism thus provides an analytical toolkit to critically penetrate phenomena like technological openness, the search for resonance in an increasingly technologized world, or the allure of shortcut technologies—and to reflect on their deeper social, cultural, and ethical implications.