Technological Progress and Development in Developing Countries
In many ways technique or technology transfer is based on the technological-economical and technology paths, often created by European colonization in Africa and South-East Asia and intensified by industrialization and globalization. The modern age is constantly developing, labeling every society throughout the world. However, the societies of third world and developing countries have not produced this reality themselves. For them modernity is an external imposition. This means the modern age turns out to be an unavoidable destiny for them.
Traditionally, modernization and technology transfer are abstract from almost all contextual factors. That is why technology development and modernization are compared cross-continentally and assessed according to value without considering the cultural and social contextual circumstances. This supposes that the Western way into the modern age is a model character, is normative and that there are no alternatives to it. A requirement for technological standards and for technology transfer is innovation, which constantly promises new development paths and stable institutional settings that can be monitored over a long period. Technology transfer as culture transfer does not automatically lead to a broad modernization but to a form of development with a speed of cultural adjustment – for sure slower than required by the modernization. It is our task to generate forms of modernization with consideration of cultural embedding and traditions.
Profile of Speaker – Bernhard Irrgang
Bernhard Irrgang, Prof. Dr. phil. habil., Dr. theol., born in 1953 is Professor for Philosophy of Technology (Technikphilosophie) at the Dresden University of Technology since 1993.
Studies in the Philosophy, Catholic Theology, German and Indology in Würzburg, Philosophy and Theology also in Passau and Munich. Bachelor for Secondary School Teaching in 1979 (German literature, Catholic Religion, Philosophy), Doctorate in Philosophy in 1982 in Würzburg (Prof. Schöpf), Scholarship of the Cusanuswerk for Basic- and Doctor Candidates Support; Graduated in Landshut for Secondary School Teaching in 1985, Doctorate in Theology in 1991 in Würzburg / Munich ( Prof. Fraling, Prof. Gründel), senior doctorate (Habilitation) in Philosophy in Bamberg in 1996 (Prof. Zimmerli). Activities in Philosophy at the University of Würzburg in 1982/83 and at the TU Braunschweig in 1985; assistant in theological ethics 1986 till 1991 at the University of Munich and 1992/93 at the University of Siegen. From 1988 until 1993 interdisciplinary seminars at the Gene Center of Munich, in 92/93 assistant lecturer at the Gene Center; collaborator in Philosophy (History of Philosophy and Ethics) at the Volkshochschule Munich in 1985 till 1998 and in Siegen in 1992 to 1993.
Cofounder of the magazine and book series " Forum für Interdisziplinäre Forschung" and co-editor since 1988; current contributor to "Philosophischen Literaturanzeiger" and "Ethica". Advisory board of the book series Technikphilosophie edited by K. Kornwachs;