Questions for Technological Determinism

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JC Church


9/21/26


Digital Media: Theory and Practice



Questions for Technological Determinism



1. What is the impact of writing invention on social changes by breaking through the limits

of oral culture?


The impact of the invention of writing on social changes by breaking through the limits of oral 

culture is that it ascended the previous bounds that came with the oral transmission of knowledge. In the 

article Walter Ong expressed his opinion that oral transmission had been heavily tainted by hierarchical 

control with the indefinite knowledge of history only being stored in the minds of those who experienced

it first hand. With it most likely going through a multitude of changes of time went on through missing

details or added details whether due to forgetfulness or differentiating opinions to sway history in favor

or against a certain group. Ong believed that writing allowed knowledge to be accessible to a much large

r group of people instead of those just at the top of the hierarchical order. Also allowing more details to 

be filled on certain topics since people didn't have to solely rely on their minds for information and 

different perspectives could be added to fill in any missing pieces.


2. How does gunpowder weaponry allows Islamic states to control vast territory in history?


Gunpowder weaponry allowed Islamic states to control a vast territory in history because with 

gunpowder weaponry comes a sufficient advantage in battles against less advanced weaponry. It allowed

for Islamic states to control vast territories by giving their armies powerful cannons and firearms that 

helped them defeat enemies and conquer fortified cities. This technology strengthened the power of 

rulers and made it easier to expand and maintain large empires. This is an example of technological 

determinism because a new technology, gunpowder weapons, helped shape political power and the 

development of society. 


3. What is “print capitalism”? How does “print capitalism” change people’s life and create

shared culture that eventually leads to modern nation state?


Print capitalism is the term used to describe how the printing press allowed for the creation of 

cohesive society with a common language and common culture. Print capitalism changed people's lives

and created a shared culture which eventually led to the modern nation state through weekly newspapers. 

By receiving weekly newspapers everyone within an area was able to obtain the same news which in thus 

made people begin to see themselves as being part of the same shared culture. This would eventually lead 

to the formation of today's modern state because these societies would begin to see themselves as an 

imagined community which would evolve into the formation of the states that we know today.



4. How does the invention of Internet change our way of communication? Why do we feel

more isolated sometimes even with the easy communication on the Internet?


The invention of the internet changed the way we communicate because it gave humans the ability to

communicate with millions of different people from all over the world whether they be family, friends, or

complete strangers. However, the internet isn’t simply used for simple communication purposes such as 

chatting with someone but it can be used for a multitude of different purposes such as listening to music 

like radio, taking photos like a camera, and even ordering food like a restaurant. However, even with all 

this innovation we sometimes feel more isolated even with the easy and endless communication because 

all of these new variations of communication are replacing organic, natural, and physical human 

interaction with many being in favor of technological communication compared to face to face.


5. What are the strength and weakness of technological determinism? How do we criticize

technological determinism with human free will?


The strengths of technological communication are that it allows for widespread historical coverage 

covering the entirety of human history and providing a theoretical explanation for the evolution of all 

human societies and it’s extremely adaptable being used to explain complex phenomena. On the other 

hand, the weaknesses of technological determinism are that it only explains complex changes in societies 

in relation to technology ignoring other factors and it ignores free will tending to underplay the importance

of human free will in choosing how to use technology. We further the criticism of technological 

determinism with human free will in that any technology can have an impact on human society but only

in relation to if humans will use it. While smartphones and the internet are the start of a technical 

revolution many people are actively trying to avoid technology participating in whats known as a digital 

detox.

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