Cultural Collisions: Postmodern Technoscience

InCultural CollisionsRaphael Sassower brings postmodernism face to face with technoscience and considers the viability of public works, such as the Superconducting Supercollider, in a postmodern age. Contending that technoscientific projects are contingent upon economic and political support, and not simply upon their scientific feasibility, Sassower illuminates the cultural context of postmodern technoscience vis-a-vis an examination of postmodernism and the philosophy of late 20th century science. Drawing upon conflicts among Popperians and postmodernists, Popperians and feminists, Sassower claims that "translation" between competing discourses are necessary to avoid cultural collisions and foster fruitful exchange between divergent discourse. Sassower claims that an inevitable common ground exists in the form of a natural and social reality and referentiality. He emphasizes also the material, political economic conditions which underlie technoscientific projects, andstresses the indispensable role imagination and art play in the teaching the responsible development of technology in the next century.