Technology as a cultural system: the impacts of ICT upon the primary and secondary theories of the world Matti Kamppinen, Dr. Phil. Departmentof ComparativeReligion Universi~ of Turku FIN-20014 7~trku,Finland matti,kamppinen@utu.fi oes the spread of information and communication itechnology force a global worldview upon us? This question has been tackled by several social scientists and some have hoped, some feared for positive answer. I will not keep the reader in suspense. The answer I propose is that probably not - - information and communication technology creates possibilities for the formation of worldviews, but it does not force a unified worldview upon people. Let us look at the details. The argument will proceed in four steps: first I will look at the traditional distinction between technics and technology, and suggest that it does not hold if analysed systematically. Secondly, I will provide reasons for believing that, indeed, the spread of information and communication technology will affect the cognitive contents of different cultures; Thirdly I will look at the possible implications of this thesis, and further inquire into the possible explanations of why unified worldviews have not emerged. Fourthly I will employ the distinction between primary and secondary theories of the
/lp/association-for-computing-machinery/technology-as-a-cultural-system-the-impacts-of-ict-upon-the-primary-l4ATWbhSDM