A Contextualising, Socio-technical Definition of Technology: Learning from Ancient Greece and Foucault

Abstract

The task of defining technology has had an unhappy history. It seems that agreement about what technology is—and even if a definition should be sought at all—has not been reached. This article argues that a definition is possible and should be sought. The etymology of the word technology suggests that it has long had a socio-technical meaning and, furthermore, Foucault's definition of four types of technologies suggests a framework in which a socio-technical definition of technology can be usefully detailed. In this case the definition helps to provide a broad and deeply contextual understanding of what technology is (in its tangible and intangible forms), the processes which it influences and the processes which influence it.

Keywords:

• assemblage of technologies
• socio-technical systems
• technologies of power
• technologies of production
• technologies of sign systems
• technologies of the self