The article argues for systematically including human subjectivity and the first-person perspective in the theoretical and methodological framework of the social studies of technology. The first part of the analysis explores how the subjective dimension of human life is conceptually articulated in science and technology studies and discusses efforts within this field to overcome the dichotomy between human beings and technology. On this basis, the case is put for refining the conceptual inclusion of human subjectivity and agency, showing why this requires the first-person perspective and offering an outline of guiding principles for studying technology from the standpoint of the subject. The argument illustrates how a first-person perspective can overcome individualistic positions and opens up a situated, decentered and social-symmetrical epistemology that also embraces the analysis of the power and materialized action of technological artifacts.When research addresses the connection between human beings, technology and society, and the significance of material artifacts in the conduct of everyday life, the question arises of how one can overcome the widespread dichotomy and discrepancy between human beings and technology. Human beings create technological things and use them in their everyday life; yet, conversely, technological things also shape human beings and their experiences, thoughts and actions. Without the human being, there would be no technology, and without technology, there would be no human beings.r
The paper attempts to overcome an abstract juxtaposition of human beings and technology and to develop an understanding of the technological mediation of human subjectivity and the inner relation between sociability and materiality. In contrast to the widespread notion of technological products being unproblematic means to an end, solely expanding human agency and disposition over the world, the argumentation puts the case for an understanding of technology as materialized action and contradictory forms of life. Taking this as a basis, the paper identifies in reference to Critical Psychology as well as theories from the field of science and technology studies different dimensions of the ambivalence of technology and its meaning in human life. Furthermore the paper develops suggestions of how psychological theory might contribute to a critical social study of technology.
Estudos de Psicologia I Campinas I 32(3) I 533-545 I julho -setembro 2015
AbstractBased on Critical Psychology from the Standpoint of the Subject the article describes analytical concerns and strategies of critical psychology. In a first step, the development of critical psychologies is located in current discussions on the production of knowledge, and three different typical approaches and major steps toward situated critique as a practice of mutual recognition are delineated. This shift, it is argued, has led to a historically new relevance of critique, and two basic analytical elements of critical research are introduced: Everyday conflictuality as the initiating moment of critique as well as the importance of theory for critical inquiry. On this basis a variety of analytic strategies and concepts are presented which inform Critical Psychology from the Standpoint of the Subject and suggest a constituent move from partial perspectives toward situated generalization.Keywords: Critical Psychology; Psychological theories; Subjectivity. Although throughout the history of the sciences critique has played an essential role in the development of knowledge, it remains a struggle for post-1945 conventional Western psychology until today to incorporate the potential of critique into its theory, methodology and research practice.
Resumo
O artigo descreve preocupações e estratégias analíticas da Psicologia Crítica com base na Psicologia Crítica sob o Ponto de Vista do Sujeito. O primeiro passo consiste em situar o desenvolvimento das psicologias críticas nas discussões atuais sobre a produção de conhecimento e delinear três abordagens típicas diferentes e passos principais para
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