The Special Problem of Technology
The sweet song of technology itself requires understanding so that physicians are actively trained to make it a tool rather than a master. Considering the unparalleled growth of technology in the last decade and the manner in which it has come to dominate the medical scene, it is clear that this is no simple matter. This chapter addresses this problem. It argues that people will not solve the problem of technology without providing other solutions or defenses against the human characteristics that lead to the difficulty. It discusses six such characteristics: fascination and wonder, the lure of the immediate, unambiguous values, the avoidance of uncertainty, the self-perpetuating nature of technology, and the human desire for power.
Keywords: primary care, science, medicine, technology, power, technological innovations
Oxford Scholarship Online requires a subscription or purchase to access the full text of books within the service. Public users can however freely search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter.
Please, subscribe or login to access full text content.
If you think you should have access to this title, please contact your librarian.
To troubleshoot, please check our FAQs , and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us .