Towards Machine Independence: From Mechanically Programmed Devices to the Internet of Things

Tatnall, Arthur; Davey, Bill

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-49463-0_6

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 11 publications

(13 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The Non-Human actors, of course, cannot (yet) act alone and so we must also consider their interactions with Human Actors. In this socio-technical situation the use of Actor-Network Theory to frame the discussion is most appropriate [39,40].…”

Section: 3mentioning

confidence: 99%

Researching Computers and Education Through Actor-Network Theory

Tatnall

2019

Sustainable ICT, Education and Learning

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The teaching of information technology and education needs to keep up to date to remain relevant. With technology changing rapidly this is no easy task. It is even more important that research into this area be sustainable and to keep up to date. The use of, or teaching about, computers in education involves both humans -teachers, students and parents, and non-humans -technology. Research into computers and education is socio-technical as it has to deal with both human and non-human actors, and so actor-network theory (ANT) can provide a useful research approach. This paper outlines actor-network theory and Innovation Translation (informed by ANT) and provides some examples of research using ANT as a lens for analysis.

show abstract

Section: 3mentioning

confidence: 99%

Researching Computers and Education Through Actor-Network Theory

Tatnall

2019

Sustainable ICT, Education and Learning

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Even more incorrect is the claim that the operation of the machine is explicable only in terms of the mechanical interaction of its components [López Corredoira 2005]. It seems to us that dictionaries are wiser when they say that a machine is "an aggregate of ordered parts and directed to the formation of a whole" [RAE 2017], "a material structure designed for a specific purpose" [OED 2017], "an instrument (as a lever) designed to transmit or modify the application of power, force, or motion" [MWD 2017], or "a tool containing one or more parts that uses energy to perform an intended action" [Wikipedia 2017;Tatnall & Davey 2016]. The key point here is indicated by the words 'directed', 'designed', and 'intended', each of which underlines the purposeful nature of the machine.…”

Section: The Notion Of Machine: a Machine Is Not (Only) A Mechanical Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discovering the Principle of Finality in Computational Machines

Génova

Navarro

2018

Found Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this essay we argue that the notion of machine necessarily includes its being designed for a purpose. Therefore, being a mechanical system is not enough for being a machine. Since the experimental scientific method excludes any consideration of finality on methodological grounds, it is then also insufficient to fully understand what machines are. Instead in order to understand a machine it is first required to understand its purpose, along with its structure, in clear parallel with Aristotle's final and formal causes. Obviously, purpose and structure are not machine components that can physically interact with other components; nonetheless they are essential to understanding their operation. This casts an interesting light on the relationship between mind and body: for just as an artifact's finality and structure explain its operation, so also consciousness is the explanation -not the efficient cause-of specifically human behavior. What machines and human beings have in common is that, in order to understand them, it is necessary to appeal to the principle of finality. Yet while finality is given and extrinsic in the case of machines, we human beings are characterized by the ability to self-propose our own ends. Since the principle of finality is essential to understanding the production of machines, the traditional view in modern Western philosophy that finality lies beyond the scope of objective/scientific knowledge should be rectified to allow for a genuine science of the artificial. We think a correct understanding of final causality will overcome current resistance to this principle.

show abstract

Towards Machine Independence: From Mechanically Programmed Devices to the Internet of Things

Cited by 2 publications

References 11 publications

Researching Computers and Education Through Actor-Network Theory

Researching Computers and Education Through Actor-Network Theory

Discovering the Principle of Finality in Computational Machines

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About