The proper use of artefacts: A philosophical theory of the social constitution of artefact functions

The proper use of artefacts: A philosophical theory of the social constitution of artefact functions

Scheele, M.

Meijers, A.W.M. (promotor)
Kroes, P.A. (promotor)

Technology, Policy and Management

2005-06-06

Artefacts are humanly designed objects with a function. Their proper function is what they are for. This book develops a theory of these functions on the basis of the idea that artefacts are used in a social context. Current theories of artefact functions are inadequate to deal with this special character. Functions of artefacts are defined partly in the traditional way, referring to their physical nature and causal history, but an additional constitutive feature is introduced and analysed in detail: the social context in the form of the institutionalisation of use. Func-tions can be partly defined in terms of institutionalised use. This analysis provides the basis for the understanding of artefact use and the evaluation of artefact use. Then further consequences for understanding artefacts and their functions are investi-gated and developed. In the first place it is shown how this view of functions helps understand a little investigated aspect of the communication of artefact functions, namely by way of the artefacts structural aspects. The artefact is, as it were, the carrier of symbolic meaning con-cerning its own proper function. For this analysis the pragmatic approach to language and linguistic communication is applied and extended to cover the case of function communica-tion. In the second place, the normative notion of proper function is used to give an action theoretic account of artefact use, enabling us to understand and evaluate it. The plan account of intentional action is invoked, which enables the proper use of artefacts to be analysed in terms of a use plan of the artefact. This shows how the social features of the proper function are actual part of an agents reasons for using an artefact in a particular way. Thus, the more standard accounts of action in terms of rationality and rational reconstructions can be com-bined with the social features constituting artefact functions. The analysis of artefact functions thus provides the material for a thorough analysis of artefact use.

artefacts
functions
proper functions
proper use
action theory
evaluation of use
pragmatics
institutions

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:ee901137-5d77-4c16-b5a6-d29a5915d624

90-901-9521-1

Simon Stevin Series in the Philosophy of Technology 1

Institutional Repository

doctoral thesis

(c) 2005 M. Scheele