The Design of Technology: Bridging Highly Advanced Science and Technology with Society Through the Creation of Products - Principia Designae: Pre-Design, Design, and Post-Design - page 11

Fig. 1.6 The design of technology
Students are evaluated according to whether they can perform the procedures
correctly, and the meaning of the procedures is not discussed.
How might individuals learn to focus on meaning rather than procedure?
First, individuals must understand that so-called natural laws are nothing more
than knowledge used to explain phenomena. These laws differ completely from the
truth. We normally pursue simpler explanations of physical phenomena. At times,
we believe the simplest explanation is true. For example, although the primary
difference between the Ptolemaic and Copernican systems is the degree of simplic-
ity and richness of explanation involved, we sometimes believe the Copernican
system is true and the Ptolemaic system is false. However, it is “true” that we see
the “sunset” and “sunrise.” We do not say “earthrise” or “earthset.” If these
phenomena are described as “earthrise” or “earthset,” the phenomena might be
difficult to paint or set to music. It is important to note that knowledge obtained by
science and technology based on actual phenomena is only effective when that
knowledge is used to explain particular phenomena. Much less, this knowledge is
not sufficient to control them. In other words, the products created based on this
knowledge should manifest additional behaviors that exceed designers' expecta-
tions or intentions. In reality, after many experiences with accidents or problems,
these products may begin to manifest required stable behaviors under limited and
predefined conditions. When these conditions change or when products are revised
even under the same conditions, the products might necessarily manifest unex-
pected behaviors, even if those behaviors were precisely examined in advance
based on available knowledge. This is not a defect of science and technology.
Rather, it is its essential nature.
Second, designers should investigate whether the preconditions that affect
reasoning are acceptable. In many cases, designers realize requirements or speci-
fications in products by implementing science and technology. A number of pre-
conditions are involved in these processes. However, these preconditions are