ISBN 9780521542173

La enciclopedia de ciencias y tecnologías en Argentina

Ziman, John (compilador); Technological innovation as an evolutionary process; Cambridge University Press; Cambridge (Inglaterra); 2000; ISBN 9780521542173 (Ziman TIEP)


Contenido

Los artefactos y los organismos biológicos evolucionan por procesos aparentemente similares de variación no orientada y selección retentiva. En este libro un grupo de expertos internacionales —de campos tan variados como la biología evolucionista, historia y sociología de la ciencia y la tecnologìa, ciencias cognitivas, informática, economía, educación, antropología cultural y conducción de empresas— explora sistemáticamente esta sugestiva analogía. ¿Tienen los memes tecnológicos el mismo rol que los genes? ¿En qué sentido son "no orientadas" las innovaciones tecnológicas? El diseño, ¿hace a las innovaciones "lamarckianas"? La creatividad tecnológica, ¿proviene de una recombinación de ideas preexistentes? ¿Es posible hacer simulaciones computadas de los procesos de invención? ¿Qué es lo que evoluciona: los artefactos, las ideas o las organizaciones? Estas son algunas de las muchas preguntas generadas y parcialmente respondidas por la metáfora biológica de la tecnología. Al tiempo que ilustra el poder explicativo del esquema evolutivo en contextos suficientemente definidos, el libro presenta una contribución original a disciplinas concernientes al cambio cultural, como la Arqueología Evolutiva.

Índice

  • Contents. viii-xii.
  • List of contributors. xiii.
  • Preface. xv.
  • 1 Evolutionary models for technological change by John Ziman. 3.
    • 1.1 The biological analogies. 3.
    • 1.2 The technological 'disanalogies'. 5.
    • 1.3 Is 'evolution' compatible with 'design'? 6.
    • 1.4 Artefacts as cultural constructs. 7.
    • 1.5 Institutions, roles and behaviour. 8.
    • 1.6 Selectionism versus instructionism. 10.
    • 1.7 Understanding innovation. 11.
  • 2 Biological evolution: processes and phenomena by Eva Jablonka and John Ziman. 13.
    • 2.1 Darwin's theory today. 13.
    • 2.2 Heritable variation. 15.
    • 2.3 Multiplication and heredity. 18.
    • 2.4 The objects of selection. 18.
    • 2.5 Adaptation. 21.
    • 2.6 Speciation and macroevolution. 23.
    • 2.7 Progress and its ambivalences. 25.
  • 3 Lamarckian inheritance systems in biology: a source of metaphors and models in technological evolution by Eva Jablonka. 27.
    • 3.1 The genic model. 27.
    • 3.2 Dysfunctions of the genic model in cultural evolution. 29.
    • 3.3 Epigenetic inheritance systems (EISs). 31.
    • 3.4 Induction and selection of epigenetic variations. 37.
    • 3.5 The 'unit' problem. 39.
  • 4 Selectionism and complexity by John Ziman. 41.
    • 4.1 Adaptation by selection. 41.
    • 4.2 Other selective systems in biology. 44.
    • 4.3 Selectionist methodology. 46.
    • 4.4 Emergent properties of computer models. 47.
    • 4.5 Complexity theory. 49.
  • 5 Evolutionary phenomena in technological change by Joel Mokyr. 52.
    • 5.1 Introduction. 52.
    • 5.2 Techniques and evolution. 53.
    • 5.3 Selection units and replicators. 58.
    • 5.4 Vehicles and interactors. 60.
    • 5.5 Selection and teleology. 61.
    • 5.6 Innovation and adaptation. 63.
    • 5.7 Summary: information and selection. 64.
  • 6 Selection criteria and selection processes in cultural evolution theories by Richard Nelson. 66.
    • 6.1 Different perspectives on technological evolution. 66.
    • 6.2 Technological change as one aspect of cultural evolution. 66.
    • 6.3 Differing views on selection criteria and mechanisms. 69.
    • 6.4 Technology as both practice and understanding. 72.
  • 7 Technological evolution and involution: a preliminary comparison of Europe and Japan by Alan Macfarlane and Sarah Harrison. 77.
    • 7.1 The industrious revolution. 77.
    • 7.2 The West·European trajectory. 77.
    • 7.3 The decline in the use of domesticated animals in Japan. 79.
    • 7.4 The declining use of the wheel in Japan. 80.
    • 7.5 The outcome: intensive rice agriculture in Japan. 81.
    • 7.6 The puzzle of the different trajectory of Europe and Japan. 84.
    • 7.7 Possible reasons for the absence of domesticated animals in Japan. 85.
    • 7.8 Theories to explain the declining use of the wheel. 87.
  • 8 Stasis in complex artefacts by Gerry Martin. 90.
    • 8.1 A skilled craft in a sophisticated civilization. 90.
    • 8.2 The Japanese sword. 91.
    • 8.3 Iron + 0.7% carbon = steel. 92.
    • 8.4 Quench hardening. 96.
    • 8.5 Keeping to what has been found. from long experience, to work. 98.
  • 9 Gothic tales of spandrels, hooks and monsters: complexity, multiplicity and association in the explanation of technological change by David Turnbull. 101.
    • 9.1 Explaining technological change. 101.
    • 9.2 Two contrasting stories. 102.
    • 9.3 The social construction of science and technology. 106.
    • 9.4 Thinking with cathedrals. 107.
    • 9.5 The power of the template. 112.
    • 9.6 The power of talk. 113.
    • 9.7 Theory and practice. 115.
    • 9.8 Analysing artefacts in use. 116.
  • 10 Path dependence and varieties ofiearning in the evolution of technological practice by Paula A. David. 118.
    • 10.1 Introduction: varieties of learning in the economics of technology. 118.
    • 10.2 A concrete historical application. 121.
    • 10.3 Inquiry by means of computer simulation: the 'Bayesian adaptive rhythm (BAR) model. 122.
    • 10.4 The historical frame and the computational bounds upon inferential learning. 124.
    • 10.5 Simulation results. 127.
    • 10.6 Some extrapolations. 129.
    • 10.7 Imtructionist versus selectionist mechanisms in evolution. 131.
  • 11 Invention and evolution: the case of Edison's sketches of the telephone by W. Bernard Carlson. 137.
    • 11.1 The evolutionary role of the inventor. 137.
    • 11.2 Demystifying the process of invention. 138.
    • 11.3 A historical interlude: Edison, acoustic telegraphy, and the Reis telephone. 139.
    • 11.4 Edison's transfonnative sketches ofthe Reis telephone. 143.
    • 11.5 Another historical interlude: Bell. Western Union and Edison's contract. 148.
    • 11.6 Sketches as fossils: taking a palaeontological approach. 149.
    • 11.7 Making maps to find patterns in the fossil record. 150.
    • 11.8 A narrative overview of Edison's work on the telephone. 151.
    • 11.9 So what do these maps tell us about invention and evolution? 155.
    • 11.10 Edison as breeder. 157.
  • 12 The evolution of adaptive form by David Perkins. 159.
    • 12.1 The evolution of adaptive form. 159.
    • 12.2 The challenge of adaptive form. 160.
    • 12.3 Strategies of search. 164.
    • 12.4 How biological evolution is Klondike smart. 167.
    • 12.5 How human invention is Klondike smarter. 169.
    • 12.6 Is invention Lamarckian or Darwinian?171.
  • 13 Real-world variation-selection in the evolution of technological form: historical examples by Walter G. Vincenti. 174.
    • 13.1 The constraints of the real world. 174.
    • 13.2 Variation-selection in direct use. 175.
    • 13.3 Variation-selection in design. 177.
    • 13.4 Variation-selection in a design community. 182.
    • 13.5 Observations. 187.
  • 14 Learning to be inventive: design, evaluation and selection in primary school technology by Joan Solomon. 190.
    • 14.1 Education. 190.
    • 14.2 The nature of technology. 191.
    • 14.3 Technology and history. 192.
    • 14.4 Starting the design process. 193.
    • 14.5 Problems with drawing for selection. 194.
    • 14.6 Spatial ability and mental modelling. 195.
    • 14.7 Evaluation. 199.
    • 14.8 Creativity and conclusions. 200.
  • 15 Technological evolution as self-fulfilling prophecy by Geoffrey Miller. 203.
    • 15.1 From genetic algorithms to Darwinian engineering. 203.
    • 15.2 How computer science turned Darwinian. 204.
    • 15.3 How genetic algorithms work. 206.
    • 15.4 Some strengths and weaknesses of genetic algorithms. 209.
    • 15.5 Fitness evaluation in Darwinian engineering. 211.
    • 15.6 The future of technological evolution. 214.
  • 16 Recursive practice and the evolution of technological knowledge by Edward Constant. 219.
    • 16.1 Introduction. 219.
    • 16.2 Recursion in engineering science and practice. 221.
    • 16.3 What evolves? 224.
    • 16.4 A quasi-Bayesian solution. 224.
    • 16.5 Recursion and rationality. 228.
    • 16.6 Recursive practice and the evolution of technological knowledge. 230.
  • 17 The concept of 'design space' by Rikard Stankiewicz. 234.
    • 17.1 A conceptual framework for technological evolution. 234.
    • 17.2 Cognitive dimensions of technology. 234.
    • 17.3 Design spaces. 235.
    • 17.4 Dynamics of design spaces. 237.
    • 17.5 The evolutionary regimes of technology. 237.
      • The craft regime. 237.
      • The engineering regime. 238.
      • The architectural regime. 239.
      • The research regime. 240.
    • 17.6 Structuring design spaces. .
    • 17.7 Design languages. 241.
    • 17.8 Hierarchies of design languages. 242.
    • 17.9 The expansion of design spaces. 243.
    • 17.10 The convergence of design spaces. 245.
    • 17.11 Technological change as conceptual evolution. 246.
    • 17.12 Organizational and institutional implications. 246.
  • 18 Artefact <—> activity: the coevolution of artefacts, knowledge and organization in technological innovation by James Fleck. 248.
    • 18.1 Introduction. 248.
    • 18.2 Technology development. 248.
    • 18.3 The units for technological evolution. 249.
    • 18.4 The role of artefacts. 251.
    • 18.5 The role of knowledge. 254.
    • 18.6 The role of organization. 256.
    • 18.7 The artefact-activity couple. 257.
    • 18.8 Stable replication. 259.
    • 18.9 Technological lineages. 260.
    • 18.10 Variation and innovation. 263.
    • 18.11 Lamarckanism, Darwinism and neo-Darwinism in technological evolution. 265.
  • 19 The organization of innovative enterprises by Gerard Fairtlough. 267.
    • 19.1 Styles of organization and patterns of evolution. 267.
    • 19.2 A typology of innovation. 267.
    • 19.3 Types of organization. 271.
    • 19.4 Choosing the right management style. 272.
    • 19.5 Features of innovative organizations. 273.
    • 19.6 Organization and technological evolution. 277.
  • 20 The evolution of war and technology by Edward Constant. 281.
    • 20.1 The partnership of Mars and Vulcan. 281.
    • 20.2 Macroevolution. 283.
    • 20.3 Coevolution and complementarities. 288.
    • 20.4 'Fitness' and the problem of selection. 291.
    • 20.5 Directed mutation. vicarious selection and institutional memory. 296.
  • 21 Learning about technology in society: developing liberating literacy by Janet Davies Burns. 299.
    • 21.1 Understanding technological change. 299.
    • 21.2 The role of social groups in technological development. 299.
    • 21.3 Liberating literacy. 302.
    • 21.4 Liberating literacy in a risk society. 304.
    • 21.5 Education for technology. 307.
    • 21.6 Conclusion. 310.
  • 22 An end-word by all contributors. 312.
  • Notes. 316.
  • Bibliography. 324-346.
  • Alphabetical index. 347-379.

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Ziman, John (compilador); Technological innovation as an evolutionary process; Cambridge University Press; Cambridge (Inglaterra); 2000; ISBN 9780521542173 (Ziman TIEP)