The Two Cultures Gaps and Traps: An Imbalanced Socio-Technological Dynamic?

Author

Zessner, Walter W.

Author_Institution

George Brown Coll., Toronto, Ont., Canada

fYear

2006

fDate

8-10 June 2006

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

6

Abstract

The Two Cultures (C.P.Snow, 1959) identifies a split between the humanities and the sciences in "mutual incomprehension." Controversies impede resolving this polarization, possibly contributing to societal declines. Reinterpretations suggest affinities between cultural innovative and evolutionary processes. Preventing an innovative formalism as a tool for choices from turning into a formalistic close ended or choiceless tool and "progress trap" is identified as a pivotal challenge. Projections for a humanist-scientific and socio- technological equilibrium are simplified with dynamic variances among extreme TWO CULTURES divides as polarizing traps without a moderating THIRD CULTURE. Apparent opposites might translate paradoxically into complemental contraries: "Without paradox no progress" (Niels Bohr, 1885-1962).

Keywords

humanities; socio-economic effects; mutual incomprehension; socio technological dynamic; Cultural differences; Defense industry; Educational institutions; Impedance; Labeling; Polarization; Resilience; Snow; Technological innovation; Turning;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Technology and Society, 2006. ISTAS 2006. IEEE International Symposium on

Conference_Location

Queens, NY

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-0478-0

Electronic_ISBN

978-1-4244-0479-7

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ISTAS.2006.4375900

Filename

4375900