Changes

*incapable of being avoided or evaded <an inevitable outcome>

*incapable of being avoided or evaded <an inevitable outcome>

==Inevitability Thesis==

==Inevitability Thesis==

An [[idea]] in the [[philosophy]] of [[technology]] stating that once a technology is introduced into a [[culture]] that what follows is inevitable [[development]] of that technology. This development occurs not because it is of [[determinism]] but because we are able to pursue it and it seems like the right [[thing]] to do. This idea is often referred to as the ''technological imperative''. This development can occur with little [[thought]] or input from [[society]]. This idea is often used in the [[conversation]] about technological determinism but these two concepts are clearly [[different]]. [[Determinism]] is a much broader and stricter way of looking at [[cause]]s of social, cultural and [[political]] development (Chandler).

An [[idea]] in the [[philosophy]] of [[technology]] stating that once a technology is introduced into a [[culture]] that what follows is inevitable [[development]] of that technology. This development occurs not because it is of [[determinism]] but because we are able to pursue it and it seems like the right [[thing]] to do. This idea is often referred to as the ''technological imperative''. This development can occur with little [[thought]] or input from [[society]]. This idea is often used in the [[conversation]] about technological determinism but these two concepts are clearly [[different]]. [[Determinism]] is a much broader and stricter way of looking at [[cause]]s of social, cultural and [[political]] development (Chandler).

<blockquote>"Arnold Pacey suggests that the ''technological imperative'' is commonly taken to be 'the lure of always pushing toward the greatest feat of technical [[performance]] or [[complexity]] which is currently available' (Pacey 1983, p. 79). The mathematician [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_von_Neumann John von Neumann] wrote with some alarm that 'technological possibilities are irresistible to man.' (in Mumford 1971, p. 186). Jacques Soustelle declared of the atomic bomb that 'Since it was possible, it was [[necessary]]' (in Ellul 1964, p. 99). And fatalists might add that since we can now destroy the [[planet]], in time we will. The technological imperative is a common [[assumption]] amongst commentators on 'new technologies'. They tell us, for instance, that the 'information technology revolution' is inevitably on its way and our task as users is to learn to cope with it."</blockquote>

<blockquote>"Arnold Pacey suggests that the ''technological imperative'' is commonly taken to be 'the lure of always pushing toward the greatest feat of technical [[performance]] or [[complexity]] which is currently available' (Pacey 1983, p. 79). The mathematician [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_von_Neumann John von Neumann] wrote with some alarm that 'technological possibilities are irresistible to man.' (in Mumford 1971, p. 186). Jacques Soustelle declared of the atomic bomb that 'Since it was possible, it was [[necessary]]' (in Ellul 1964, p. 99). And fatalists might add that since we can now destroy the [[planet]], in time we will. The technological imperative is a common [[assumption]] amongst commentators on 'new technologies'. They tell us, for instance, that the 'information technology revolution' is inevitably on its way and our task as users is to learn to cope with it."</blockquote>

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

* Chandler, Daniel. Technological or Media Determinism. 1995. 18 September 1995. <http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/tecdet/tecdet.html>[unreliable source?]

* Chandler, Daniel. Technological or Media Determinism. 1995. 18 September 1995. <http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/tecdet/tecdet.html>[unreliable source?]