Description
About the Author
Richard G. Olson is professor emeritus of history at Harvey Mudd College and adjunct professor of history at Claremont Graduate University.
Reviews
Scientism and Technocracy in the Twentieth Century covers far more ground than a brief review can detail.... Comparing the career of scientific management across such a wide scope is an ambitious and interesting project, and Olson ably synthesizes a variety of literatures from business history, the history of the social sciences, the history of imperialism, and much more, offering many tantalizing narrative lines.... Because of its transnational comparative approach...Olson's work has something new to offer to scholars of a variety of geographic specialities interested in the historical and contemporary relationship between science, technology, and democracy in the twentieth century. * Isis *
This is a masterful addition to an extensive body of work analyzing the complex relationships between modern science and society. Beginning with Science Deified and Science Defied (1982) Richard Olson has produced a series of insightful, general studies of the ways science has influenced, been appropriated by, and critically challenged social orders. Scientism and Technocracy in the Twentieth Century is a worthy addition to his many previous publications and significantly deepens his search for appropriate ways to think and act to enhance 'the quality of our public and private lives' in a world increasingly dependent on both scientific knowledge and engineering prowess. -- Carl Mitcham, Colorado School of Mines
We often think of technocracy as a failed movement of the early twentieth-century United States. However, as Richard G. Olson shows in this definitive survey of a century of scientific management's global reach, its principles continue to play a profound role in politics and society throughout the world. -- Matthew Wisnioski, Virginia Tech
Richard Olson is one of the world's keenest observers and thinkers on the evolution of the relationship between science, culture, and society. In this lucid, insightful, and global historical exploration of Taylorite scientific management, scientism, and technocracy in the modern era ranging from the United States and Europe to China and Africa, he shows both their potent influences and severe limitations, providing a timely reminder that the single-minded pursuit of efficiency could lead to disasters if not combined with broader concerns for democracy, equality, and other human values. -- Zuoyue Wang, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Book Information
ISBN 9781498525701
Author Richard G. Olson
Format Hardback
Page Count 230
Imprint Lexington Books
Publisher Lexington Books
Weight(grams) 485g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 160mm * 20mm