动量效应:科技研究中的一个概念

Momentum:A Concept in Technology Studies

大规模科技系统在发展时产生动量效应,这意味着,一个起初看似不起眼的、随意的科技选择。

Human beings are clearly not free to do whatever they please in the technical sphere. Economic, political, cultural and even emerge from the technology itself seem to be great forces steering development. Large scale technological systems acquire momentum as they grow. The momentum of the system may draw it toward disaster as is the case today with the US auto industry. Its commitment to large vehicles seems to have led it into a dead end where Toyota will pick up the pieces. Naturally, the accumulated knowledge of advanced societies offers a short cut to rapid development. This is a reason to follow the pattern set there. However, critical voices in the West and Japan can be extremely useful in evaluating possible trajectories of development before commitments have been made that are difficult to reverse. This is why it is desirable that the huge literature on social and environmental problems of advanced societies be rapidly made available in China and studied by all those with responsibilities for development.