{"title":"The epistemic grammar of bioinspired technologies: Shifting the focus from nature to scientific practices","authors":"Marco Tamborini","doi":"10.1016/j.techsoc.2024.102626","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This article philosophically addresses the promise of biomimetic design, according to which mimicking natural forms can provide better, more sustainable and less risky engineering solutions. Focusing on the grammar of scientific practices, the article establishes an epistemological basis for biomimetic technology that explores the creative interaction between technology and nature. The epistemological framework shows that bioinspired objects are autonomous with specific properties. They must be evaluated in their ability to fulfill the biomimetic promise in local applications and contexts. The article presents three results. First, it presents a philosophical framework that deepens the understanding of the relationship between sustainability and bioinspired technologies and allows for a retrospective assessment of their sustainability. Second, it points out that the scientific framework emerging from bioinspired technologies is based on collaboration, interdisciplinarity, and a holistic approach to scientific inquiry. Third, it encourages a shift in perspective from the ontology of bioinspired design to the epistemic grammar of its production.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":47979,"journal":{"name":"Technology in Society","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":10.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X2400174X/pdfft?md5=fe5e2ad4b07cfb44a1cea2a184491211&pid=1-s2.0-S0160791X2400174X-main.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Technology in Society","FirstCategoryId":"90","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X2400174X","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"SOCIAL ISSUES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This article philosophically addresses the promise of biomimetic design, according to which mimicking natural forms can provide better, more sustainable and less risky engineering solutions. Focusing on the grammar of scientific practices, the article establishes an epistemological basis for biomimetic technology that explores the creative interaction between technology and nature. The epistemological framework shows that bioinspired objects are autonomous with specific properties. They must be evaluated in their ability to fulfill the biomimetic promise in local applications and contexts. The article presents three results. First, it presents a philosophical framework that deepens the understanding of the relationship between sustainability and bioinspired technologies and allows for a retrospective assessment of their sustainability. Second, it points out that the scientific framework emerging from bioinspired technologies is based on collaboration, interdisciplinarity, and a holistic approach to scientific inquiry. Third, it encourages a shift in perspective from the ontology of bioinspired design to the epistemic grammar of its production.
期刊介绍:
Technology in Society is a global journal dedicated to fostering discourse at the crossroads of technological change and the social, economic, business, and philosophical transformation of our world. The journal aims to provide scholarly contributions that empower decision-makers to thoughtfully and intentionally navigate the decisions shaping this dynamic landscape. A common thread across these fields is the role of technology in society, influencing economic, political, and cultural dynamics. Scholarly work in Technology in Society delves into the social forces shaping technological decisions and the societal choices regarding technology use. This encompasses scholarly and theoretical approaches (history and philosophy of science and technology, technology forecasting, economic growth, and policy, ethics), applied approaches (business innovation, technology management, legal and engineering), and developmental perspectives (technology transfer, technology assessment, and economic development). Detailed information about the journal's aims and scope on specific topics can be found in Technology in Society Briefings, accessible via our Special Issues and Article Collections.