Coninx, Sabrina and Löhr, Guido (2025) Rethinking Disruptive Technologies: The Benefits, Harms, and Injustices of Human Niche Construction. [Preprint]
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Abstract
Disruptive technologies are a key theme in economics, the philosophy of technology, and situated cognition - yet these debates remain largely disconnected. This paper addresses four core questions that cut across them: (i) What, precisely, are disruptive technologies “disrupting” across the different contexts in which the literature situates them? (ii) Why do technological disruptions play such prominent roles, in multiple domains, concerning the development of our species, cultures, and personal lives? (iii) Are technological disruptions inherently beneficial or harmful, and how are potential benefits and harms brought about? (iv) What strategies are available for adaptation to disruptive technologies, and how accessible are they for different groups and individuals? To unify current debates and provide a conceptual and normative foundation for future research, we draw on niche construction theory. We argue that disruptive technologies are technological niche disruptions (TENDs) that occur at various spatiotemporal scales. TENDs pressure social groups and individuals to adapt. As the abilities and resources that adaptation requires are often unevenly distributed, so are the harms and benefits TENDs produce. TENDs, therefore, both reflect and sustain existing inequalities.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | |||||||||
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| Keywords: | Niche Construction; Negative Niche Construction; Niche Disruption; Disruptive Technologies; Social Inequality | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Concepts and Representations General Issues > Ethical Issues General Issues > Philosophers of Science General Issues > Technology |
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| Depositing User: | Dr. Sabrina Coninx | |||||||||
| Date Deposited: | 06 Aug 2025 12:56 | |||||||||
| Last Modified: | 06 Aug 2025 12:56 | |||||||||
| Item ID: | 26134 | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Concepts and Representations General Issues > Ethical Issues General Issues > Philosophers of Science General Issues > Technology |
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| Date: | 8 August 2025 | |||||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/26134 |
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