Langdon Winner's Argument Analysis

In the reading, Langdon Winner puts lots of arguments to show how artifacts are more than just inventions when we look their effects in the society and the way they are indirectly related with the political beliefs. Artifacts also can be known as technologies over time have redefined the way we look at them because they model our society and bring the change once they are introduced. In the beginning of the reading, Winner introduces argument in a way that persuades reader in his topic of discussion. The argument begins when he says, “At issue is the claim that the machines, structures, and systems of modern material culture can be accurately judged not only for their contributions of efficiency and productivity, not merely for their positive …show more content…
He expands upon his argument by introducing many people and their works which are mostly concerned with technology and its overlooked role in the modern politics. According to the Winner, our society is built by the technology. Once the new technologies are introduced, they changed the way people live. This means that we are not just looking at the technology but also the political and socio-economic systems embedded in it. This introduces “technological politics” in the reading. As per the Winner, construction, design, arrangement of a technological system along with the compatibility of the system with political relationships reflect political properties in the artifacts. He then introduces bridges over the parkways on Long Island, New York which were built extraordinary low. The way bridges were built seemed to be benefitting only wealthier groups. Minority who had no private vehicles and depended on public buses were deprived from enjoying the beauty of the parks. As per the reading, this kind of introduction of technology directly plays with social and political notions. To further expand upon the argument, he introduces Baron Haussmann's broad Parisian