Necessary and Contingent Aspects of Technical Practice

Ever since technology has become recognisable as a major social force, its achievements have been questioned by romantics, fearful that valued traditions might be lost for ever. However, during the last twenty years or so a different kind of controversy has been gathering momentum. The central issue is the alleged ethical and political neutrality of technical practice, especially in the highly industrialised societies. As yet the debate has been only poorly reflected, if at all, in economic theory; and few economists, in their professional capacity, have taken an explicit standpoint in relation to it. Yet the whole matter is highly relevant to the new directions which economics might take, particularly those aspects which pertain to technological planning and policy.