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MENTAL MODEL · M6028

Technological Determinism

Technological Determinism
CultureHigh supportSociology
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-28

CORE DEFINITION

Technological determinism is a school of thought in the sociology of technology. It is built around two main ideas: society has no influence on technology, which evolves according to its own logic and scientific progress; and technology influences society. Technological determinism is now challenged by advances in the sociology of scientific knowledge. This theory is generally considered one of the reductionist ideas and one of the ideas of Marxism.

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Technological determinism is a school of thought in the sociology of technology. It is built around two main ideas: society has no influence on technology, which evolves according to its own logic and scientific progress; and technology influences society. Technological determinism is now challenged by advances in the sociology of scientific knowledge. This theory is generally considered one of the reductionist ideas and one of the ideas of Marxism.

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Changes in underlying general-purpose technologies (energy, transportation, communication, computing) reshape production methods and social relations, thereby driving adaptive changes in institutions and culture. Technology is thus seen as the cause of social change.

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Source support: Explicit

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    zh.wikipedia.orghttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%8A%80%E6%9C%AF%E5%86%B3%E5%AE%9A%E8%AE%BAZH · Explicit
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