Academic courses

Academic course

Sociology of Technology

For decades, technology was seen as a separate, neutral force—like the air we breathe. This course challenges that notion, revealing the profound, two-way relationship between technology and society.

Institution University of Wroclaw
Term 2012/2013
Language Polish

We will explore how technology not only shapes our lives, but also reshapes social relations, political systems, and economic models. We’ll discover how technology is conceptualized in classic and contemporary sociological thought, from thinkers like Manuel Castells and Bruno Latour.

We'll examine the socio-psychological impact of technology, including how our sense of "self" is being formed in a networked world. The course also addresses the political implications of technology—from new forms of political freedom to the potential for direct democracy—and its effect on the global networked economy, work ethics, and modern education.

Finally, we'll explore new visions for the future, including elements of social design based on technology.

In this course, you will learn to:

  • Critically analyze the profound impact of technology on social interactions, culture, and individual identity.
  • Examine key sociological theories that explain the relationship between technology and society.
  • Evaluate the influence of technology on contemporary politics, economics, and education.
  • Identify emerging trends like networked individualism and the future of social design.

This course is essential for anyone seeking to understand the deep connections between the technology and social worlds. It is ideal for students in sociology, communication, political science, media, economics, as well as engineer studies programs who want to critically engage with the technological forces shaping our future.