Difference between revisions of "325--2011--Week 4 Questions/Comments"
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I thought it was incredible how McEvoy was able to show the relationship between technology and the environment in a way that strays away from most historians. He looks deeper into the new industrial ways of the United States and like many of my peers before me have already emphasized, his notion of the workplace as an ecological system and the worker the biological core is an important one. Thinking of how technology can affect the safety of the worker, I would have never thought that it in turn could have such an impact on political and social organization of society, but it makes sense. McEvoy shows us an example this when talking about how the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911. It actually resulted in changes being make in the law, with new factory safety and accident compensation law. This just shows the importance of technology not only in the industrialization itself, but in the betterment of America's whole society, not just a piece. McEvoy mentions Karl Polanyi's definition of industrial revolution: "Industrial Revolution is a revolution in social organization as much or more than a revolution in production technology" (p. 78). Thus, new technologies were not only affecting industry, but the society as a whole. It affected the economy, especially with the capitalist ideals in industry and the expenses employers had to pay for safer conditions for their workers. -Claire Brooks | I thought it was incredible how McEvoy was able to show the relationship between technology and the environment in a way that strays away from most historians. He looks deeper into the new industrial ways of the United States and like many of my peers before me have already emphasized, his notion of the workplace as an ecological system and the worker the biological core is an important one. Thinking of how technology can affect the safety of the worker, I would have never thought that it in turn could have such an impact on political and social organization of society, but it makes sense. McEvoy shows us an example this when talking about how the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911. It actually resulted in changes being make in the law, with new factory safety and accident compensation law. This just shows the importance of technology not only in the industrialization itself, but in the betterment of America's whole society, not just a piece. McEvoy mentions Karl Polanyi's definition of industrial revolution: "Industrial Revolution is a revolution in social organization as much or more than a revolution in production technology" (p. 78). Thus, new technologies were not only affecting industry, but the society as a whole. It affected the economy, especially with the capitalist ideals in industry and the expenses employers had to pay for safer conditions for their workers. -Claire Brooks | ||
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| + | McEvoy claims that people and the industrial workplace can be studied by ecological historians in much the same way as a forest and the animals within can be studied and goes on to prove his point well. He claims that ecological historians are some of the most adept interdisciplinary historians capable of looking at a piece of history from various connected angels. Using this template he goes on to explain how the industrial workplace can be studied as an ecosystem with the human body as its core. This is an able and good comparison. The person using technology in a specific environment will dictate how it evolves and adapts depending on how effective it is and how it should suit his needs. Not unlike adaptation in a forest (or at least thats what I took away from it). This is a fascinating point of view and gives a convincing case for how the relatively new discipline of environmental science is growing and stretching beyond its normal boundaries in an exciting way. - Scott Birney | ||
== Edison Bowers, “Ís It Safe to Work? A Study of Industrial Accidents” == | == Edison Bowers, “Ís It Safe to Work? A Study of Industrial Accidents” == | ||
