Re: JP Barlow, democracy and ACF

Damien Broderick (damien@ariel.ucs.unimelb.edu.au)
Thu, 19 Sep 1996 01:00:27 +1000


Alexander Chislenko wrote:
>>
>> > [...]
>> The term "social engineering" refers not to
>> enlightened use of technology, but achieving political goals through the
>> use of force or subterfuge.

As I recall, `social engineering'(tm) was introduced by Karl Popper
precisely to distinguish cautious, provisional, targeted change from
large-scale, ideologically-driven or grandly coercive changes to the
socio-economic order. Somehow in general conservative usage (at least in
Australian political discourse, and yours seems in line with that) it has
got turned around to imply the opposite.

Damien

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Dr Damien Broderick / Associate, Dept. English and Cultural Studies
University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, AUSTRALIA
@: damien@ariel.its.unimelb.edu.au
bio/biblio: http://www.vicnet.net.au/~ozlit/broderic.html
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