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instrumental-reason

The critique of the dominance of instrumental reason, or the reduction of human thought and action to calculative processes.

1 chapter across 1 book

Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgment to Calculation (1976)Joseph Weizenbaum

Full Text

This chapter serves as the introductory material and front matter for Joseph Weizenbaum's 'Computer Power and Human Reason,' including the editor's note, preface, dedication, contents, and the beginning of the introduction. The preface outlines the book's central argument that computers are a metaphor for a broader cultural transformation and stresses the distinction between human judgment and machine calculation. The editor's note contextualizes the book's historical significance and relevance to contemporary issues in technology and ethics.