技术发展的关系性视角——以印刷术的革新过程为例

Relational Perspective of Technological Development:The Innovation Process of Printing as an Example

技术目前越来越成为影响经济社会发展进程的重要因素,但“技术进步”的前提预设与技术发展的实际过程并不符合。鉴于当下技术社会学研究“精细有余而反思不足”的局限性,本文从技术社会学的早期理论资源——“科学-技术-社会”研究框架中汲取养分,提出“关系性视角”,以自唐朝始的印刷术的革新过程为例,研究技术与社会的动态关系。研究发现,印刷术发展的历史是“碰撞机制”和“磋商机制”交替作用的结果,它在技术关系中起源,活字印刷技术的推广有赖于世界各地的关系结构,技术传播彰显了复杂的关系流动过程。相较于既有研究,本文尝试做出两点推进:一是打通技术内部与外部之间的藩篱,开启更具包容性的视野;二是探索基于本土科技观的研究方式,将道德维度纳入考量。关系性视角对于当下技术的发展亦有所启发,有助于倡导技术向善,增进人类福祉。

Technology has become an increasingly important factor affecting the development of the economy and society.However,as the prerequisite,the statement of“technological progress”is inconsistent with the actual develop⁃ment process of technology.Such inconsistency is related to the limitations of current research on the sociology of technology,which is characterized by“ex⁃cessive refinement but insufficient reflection”.This paper is inspired by the ear⁃ly theoretical resources of the sociology of technology,the framework of science-technology-society.It proposes a relational perspective and takes the innovation process of printing since the Tang Dynasty as an example,to study the dynamic relationship between technology and society.It is found that the development of printing in history is the result of the interaction between the collision mecha⁃nism and the consultation mechanism,which originated in the technological rela⁃tionship.The promotion of the innovative technological form-movable type print⁃ing depends on the relationship structure of different regions,and the spread of printing shows the complex relational flow process.Compared with the current research,this paper attempts to make two advances.Firstly,it bridges the gap between the inside and outside of technology and gives a more comprehensive perspective.Secondly,it explores endogenous research methods based on local scientific and technological views.At the same time,the relational perspective is also enlightening for the current technological development.It is conducive to promoting substantive exchanges and cooperation among technology creators,rule makers,users,promoters,and academic researchers,advocating technology for goodness and improving human well-being.