Don Ihde

Even before we humans became modern as homo sapiens we were busy inventing technologies. But our technologies also invent us as humans. And as we reflect upon this process, too often our interpretations have taken utopian or dystopian directions: our technologies will make life infinitely better and lead us into utopian realms, or our technologies will condemn us to alienation or even destroy our humanity itself. This set of essays, however, looks at the ironic dimensions of human-technology relations, at unpredicted, unexpected, surprizing outcomes. Are we today in a knowledge society? And, if so, are we wiser? Can we design intended uses into our technologies? Or, do they always surprise us with the unexpected? Can we technologize our very bodies? Become ever more Cyborgean? And have we or could we become posthuman? Here, drawing from a rich history of technologies, Ironic Technics takes a critical look at these contemporary, but also ancient questions.

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