Scientific and Technological Progress, Democracy, Participation and Technology Assessment in Russia

Abstract

The present engineering activity and designing in the second half of the 20th century are characterized by substantial changes, which allow to indicate a new non-traditional form in their development. This of course does not mean that their traditional forms are disappearing and go off to a background. They continue to function effectively and obtain, however, a new quality by engaging in a wider context. For example, the creation of a car today does not represent simply a technical development of the car but includes also a creation of an efficient system of servicing, development of a network of motor roads, production of spares and so on. The building of electric power stations, chemical plants etc. requires not simply an accounting of the “external” ecological situation but the formulation of ecological requirements as a source data for designing. All this ruts forward the new requirements both upon an engineer and designer and the representative of technical sciences. The influence of the human being, society and nature is so great that their social responsibility before the society is immeasurably rising. Therefore, it causes a problem of reorientation and of changing of an engineer and designer thinking.