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On the Environmental History. Key problem : Are the re connections between History o f Technology a nd History of Environment ?. A. Tudor - Nicolae Titulescu College Brasov E . Helerea – Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania. O pinions on:. Technology It is a human effort
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On the Environmental History Key problem: Are thereconnections between History of Technology and Historyof Environment ? A. Tudor -NicolaeTitulescu College Brasov E. Helerea – Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania
Opinions on: • Technology • It is a human effort • to cooperate with the physical environment • It is a destroying factor for nature • Technology, techne & logos = systematic thought concerning an art/science / technique • Environment • It is just a physical space • It is a natural resource • It is storage for wastes • It is a passive framework Energy +Materials+ Procedure Natural object Artificial object
A question: • Can the History of Technology and History of Environment • co-operate? • There is a connection even between : • - wild strawberries and steam locomotives? • - waterand metro? • - sun-flowerand automobile?
Definitions for: Environmental History • Environmental history is defined as a subject that studies two-way interactions between the environment and humanity. • Environmental history is the dialogue between anthropocentric and ecocentric approaches. • History of Technology • • History of technology examines artefacts and related knowledge that humans have produced and used in the pastfor their needs and desires. • • The history of technology’s approach to the environment is anthropocentric and technocentric.
Technology and the Environment as Agents of Changes Human’s Society Environmental determinism • Nature is the main actor in human history. • The argument of environmental determinism: the environmental factors only explainingsome historical processes. • Technological determinism • • Technology is a predominant governing force in society (technocratic concept of progress).
Technology and Nature /EnvironmentA comparison • As an agent of change, technology is not equal to nature Aristotle: ”Techne imitates nature” Example: Birds as models for airplanes • Technological determinism and Environmental determinism - both are oversimplifications of causal dependencies between Technology and Environment
Conclusion (1) Society Technology Environment
Conclusion (2) There is a connection between : - wild strawberries and locomotives? - sun-flower and automobile? • an example of a strong ECO-TECHNICAL connection: • - Sparks from locomotives are producing some fires on the grass of railways. • - Wild strawberries, in turn, prefere burnt soils and as a result, on the railways, a good strawberry harvest could be obtained.
Conclusion (3) • Nowadays, new concepts of environments are introduced (electromagnetic environment) • Pollution of environment should be a new issue of the environmental history.