Ideas, Machines, and Values - by Stephen H Cutcliffe (Paperback)

About the Book

Ideas, Machines, and Values is an introductory overview of the emergence of STS as a field of study, as well as a portrait of its current interests and concerns. The book examines the growth of STS from its birth in the mid-1960s through its development as an interdisciplinary...

Book Synopsis

Ideas, Machines, and Values is an introductory overview of the emergence of STS as a field of study, as well as a portrait of its current interests and concerns. The book examines the growth of STS from its birth in the mid-1960s through its development as an interdisciplinary field to its present state. Also addressed are the questions 'Why should we study STS?' and 'In what direction should STS be headed?

Review Quotes

Cutcliffe's book is to date the most comprehensive and balanced examination of an increasingly important interdisciplinary field of research. This work cannot help but advance the self-understanding of STS studies.

In Ideas, Machines, and Values, Stephen Cutcliffe skillfully introduces the reader to the disciplines, institutions, and individuals that have contributed to the development of Science, Technology, and Society Studies. More than a summation of prior work, this book shows how STS can make significant contributions to academic and public life. An essential guide for students, teachers, and members of the general public seeking a deeper understanding of the interrelations of science, technology, and society.

In five succinct chapters, [Cutcliffe] covers the historical emergence of STS in academe, its relationships with history, sociology, and the philosophy of science and technology, its institutional manifestations, and current and future intellectual issues and trends. Together, the notes and bibliography constitute a major resource for the creation of course outlines, reading lists, and research agendas. Cutcliffe's introduction to programs, institutions, and journals is a neophyte's handy guide to the field. He has been personally involved from the earliest years, has communicated directly with many of the participants, and has read nearly everything pertinent, and so this slim volume is truly a tour d'horizon.

About the Author

Stephen H. Cutcliffe is the director of the Science, Technology, and Society Program at Lehigh University.