Causes of Technological and Economic Growth by Ester Boserup in Population and Technology and by Lewis Mumford in The Myth of Machine Technics and Human Development

Historical differences in technological change by Ester Boserup Beserup suggests a theory that population density was one of the most influential, if not the most, factors in technological progress. In this respect, civilizations that had increased population density in terms of people in a definite area were doomed to experience technological changes. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Causes of Technological and Economic Growth by Ester Boserup in Population and Technology and by Lewis Mumford in The Myth of Machine: Technics and Human Development specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Some technological inventions, even being useful and quite applicable, can remain unrealised until the conditions change in terms of population density, food scarcity, and food supply. In this respect, knowledge can remain unimplemented for a long period of time. The author claims that the period and timeframe necessary for realisation of some knowledge and its application in life can be predicted with the help of analysis of population density, population growth, and the growth rate. In other words, the historical differences in the speed of technological change can be explained in terms of the interrelations between population needs, demographic situation, and realisation of knowledge. I think that her explanation is rather convincing because there should be some impulse in society or science to promote and encourage the practical realisation of knowledge and its introduction for the purpose of overcoming some problems faced by society. Analysis of technological change by Lewis Mumford Lewis Mumford analyses technology as a scope of machines aimed at promotion of capitalism in human society. Also, this author called religious aspects and warfare strong elements that contributed greatly to the technological change. Besides, Mumford saw ‘technics’, as he called technology, in combination with religio us and social values as a one whole or ‘organic mechanism’. In this respect, Mumford analysed technological progress as the one related to capitalism and social factors: technological changes can restrict people to power or increase potential and exist as a ‘machine’ in combination with social factors. Differences and similarities The concept of ‘technics’ by Mumford and ‘technology’ by Boserup Boserup’s concept of ‘technology’ includes development of agriculture as she analyses the methods of people in overcoming famine and other stresses related to food scarcity, growth of population, or decrease of resources. Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Thus, Ester Boserup suggests agriculture and techniques used for intensification of crop growth, development of crop resistance methods, and other tools that can be used to fight the problems related to food scarcity and population growth. Though Mumford claimed about the use of technology as he called it ‘technics’, he realised the threat of technological progress to the progress of social and religious sectors. Approaches to technological change Boserup approaches technological change as means to find an appropriate application of knowledge and overcome famine or other difficulties encountered by population because of increase in population density, decrease in resources, and other factors related to environment, land, and demographic situation. On the other hand, Mumford approaches technological change as the one that can make the human life more convenient or more restricted. Explanation of ‘Promethean impulse’ Mumford explains the ‘Promethean impulse’ as a shift from the technology as a tool to narrow and restrict human life to power to personal use of technological progress products and methods. For Boserup, an impulse included appropriate conditions in society and environment so that certain knowledge, that could be potentially used to overcome certain difficulty, was realised. Reference List Boserup, Ester, 1981. Population and technology. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. Mumford, Lewis, 1967. The myth of the machine: Technics and human development. San Diego, California: Harcourt, Brace World. This essay on Causes of Technological and Economic Growth by Ester Boserup in Population and Technology and by Lewis Mumford in The Myth of Machine: Technics and Human Development was written and submitted by user Hulk to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Worldly essays

Worldly essays 1. People looking to trade in their old car for money off of their new car become discouraged with the low trade in value, and decide either not to buy a new car at all or to buy a cheaper model. The lower car sales is a reduction in demand, because the decrease in resale value of used cars is not changing the prices of the new cars, as a change in quantity demanded would suggest, it is changing what people are willing to pay for the cars. A graph of the new demand curve would actually be shifted to the left of the old demand curve, because the price of new cars has not changed, but the number of new cars being sold has changed. 2. Escalating consumer debt, higher interest rates, and slow growth in real income are all making it difficult for consumers to purchase cars. These factors also are not changing the price of cars, and so they are changes in demand, not quantity demanded. In other words, these factors are shifting the entire demand curve to the left. 3. Ford and Toyota are making the price of buying a new car cheaper, hoping that more people will want to purchase new cars. This is an attempt to change the quantity demanded. Ford and Toyota are hoping that their efforts will move them downward on a demand curve, hence more will people buy the less-expensive new cars. An advertising campaign. If Toyota and Ford were to start a new advertising campaign, they would be attempting to change the demand. With a new advertising campaign, the car companies are hoping that the demand curve would shift back to the right and more people would buy the cars they are making at a price that returns their profit to its original level. Answers to "Use Your Economic Reasoning" on pages 82 1. The U.S. has already mined most of its high-quality, accessible natural resource deposits. Other countries still have many high-quality, accessible deposits of natural resources. 2. Technology is helping U.S. firms to lower costs, b...

Is Ham correct that connection between science and naturalism is Thesis - 1

Is Ham correct that connection between science and naturalism is arbitrary - Thesis Example These clearly distinguish it from the philosophy of super natural which is of course purely based on belief and theories that can not be tested, argued or experimented. In science, there is need for carrying out observations because it plays a very significant role in providing information that can be verified. Through observation, scientists can be able to gather information after personally making an attempt of seeing for themselves exactly what happens. In my opinion, may be it is for this reason that H’m it is for this reason that science does not encompass the elements of the supernatural because the criterion of observation does not apply in the super natural in which people do not need to make observations. The other important component of science is experimentation. In the process of acquisition of scientific knowledge, experimentation can be conducted. This is done by carrying out scientific studies in the laboratory based on the theories and hypotheses for that particular research. Whenever doing this, a scientist should be ready to be impartial and committed to the studies. If properly done, a more profound and verifiable results will be produced. These can be relied upon by the scientist as a source of information. However, as already highlighted, science still remain a subject that requires consent. This may be applicable in the natural law, but contradicts the law of super natural that dictates that everything is owed to a supernatural creature whose existence and performance can not be subjected to any form of experimentation since it is not necessarily needed. Nonetheless, scientific knowledge is defined by prediction. It is the act of prediction that compels scientists to carry out studies to ascertain exact values and figures so as to arrive at accurate and conclusive findings. So, because of this, there needs to be a formulation of hypotheses that are used to