1. Sherry Turkle, the author of Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age, is a sociologist. What is her main argument and do you agree? Why or why not? In your response, identify a specific example from the text regarding new social norms that haveemerged surrounding cell phones.
Sherry Turkle’s argument is that phones disconnect us from social interaction in person. This argument is best evidenced by Turkle’s comment that “Even a silent phone disconnects us” (21). Turkle clarifies that her message is not anti-technology, but rather “it’s pro-conversation” (25). She wants people to recognize the effects smart phones have on their social interaction. She wants people to see the importance of face-to-face social interaction. …show more content…
As he states, “To bring this reversal about, I show that engineers who elaborate a new technology as well as all those who participate at one time or another in its design, development, and diffusion constantly construct hypotheses and forms of argument that pull these participants into the field of sociological analysis” (Callon 1). As revealed in this quote, Callon believes engineers participate in sociological analysis no matter where they are in the design, development, and diffusion process. Callon supports this term by examining engineers building an electric car for EDF. He discusses how the engineers recognize the benefits of electric cars to French cities but also the harm the cars will have on the gasoline car industry. I think engineers today can be considered sociologists because they constantly examine the impact their technology has on society. For example, autonomous car designers see and promote the net benefit autonomous cars will have on those who cannot drive. At the same time, they try to understand the problems autonomous cars will have on employment for those employed as drivers. Therefore, engineers need to always be learning about
Sherry Turkle’s argument is that phones disconnect us from social interaction in person. This argument is best evidenced by Turkle’s comment that “Even a silent phone disconnects us” (21). Turkle clarifies that her message is not anti-technology, but rather “it’s pro-conversation” (25). She wants people to recognize the effects smart phones have on their social interaction. She wants people to see the importance of face-to-face social interaction. …show more content…
As he states, “To bring this reversal about, I show that engineers who elaborate a new technology as well as all those who participate at one time or another in its design, development, and diffusion constantly construct hypotheses and forms of argument that pull these participants into the field of sociological analysis” (Callon 1). As revealed in this quote, Callon believes engineers participate in sociological analysis no matter where they are in the design, development, and diffusion process. Callon supports this term by examining engineers building an electric car for EDF. He discusses how the engineers recognize the benefits of electric cars to French cities but also the harm the cars will have on the gasoline car industry. I think engineers today can be considered sociologists because they constantly examine the impact their technology has on society. For example, autonomous car designers see and promote the net benefit autonomous cars will have on those who cannot drive. At the same time, they try to understand the problems autonomous cars will have on employment for those employed as drivers. Therefore, engineers need to always be learning about