Exploring the Evolution of Technology: Jocelyn Holland’s Insights in Theory’s Practice
New Book by Caltech Professor Challenges Historical Narratives on Technology
Pasadena, CA — In a groundbreaking new book, Theory’s Practice: Reflections on Technology in Germany Around 1800, Jocelyn Holland, a professor of comparative literature at Caltech, is reshaping our understanding of the intellectual history of technology. Published by Brill, Holland’s work argues that significant shifts in the conceptualization of technology were already underway in late 18th-century Germany, challenging the widely held belief that such theoretical interest emerged only in the late 19th century.
Holland’s research delves into a pivotal period when thinkers began to transition from viewing technology merely as a collection of practical skills to a more abstract understanding of its implications. "People who write broad histories of technology often gloss over the details," Holland explains. "I aimed to fine-tune this history by closely examining a few important decades."
In her book, Holland reveals that individuals in the mid-18th century defined technology as a "compendium" of technical terms derived from various crafts. However, by the late 1700s, a shift occurred as scholars sought to organize these disparate elements into coherent systems of knowledge. "What happened around the 1770s is that technology began to be taught as a specific course at universities," she notes, highlighting the emergence of handbooks and manuals that aimed to encompass a wide range of practical skills.
Language played a crucial role in this evolution. The guild system, which kept artisans’ knowledge closely guarded, posed significant challenges for those attempting to create comprehensive writings on technology. "There might be ten different terms for the same tool depending on the context," Holland explains. This complexity forced writers and educators to adopt a more theoretical perspective, prompting them to reflect on how to classify various craft practices and tools.
Holland draws parallels between this intellectual movement in Germany and the broader European interest in classification during the same period. Just as Carl Linnaeus was developing taxonomies for the natural world, German intellectuals were striving to create logical categories for tools and techniques. One notable figure in Holland’s study is Johann Beckmann, author of the influential Guide to Technology, who even visited Linnaeus in Sweden.
With a deep love for language and its historical significance, Holland expresses nostalgia for the specialized technical vocabulary of the past. "I like to encounter very specific words that are no longer spoken or written as much as they used to be," she reflects. Her fascination with the late 18th and early 19th centuries is also informed by her work on literary writers of the era, who shared a profound sensitivity to language.
As Theory’s Practice challenges conventional narratives about the history of technology, it invites readers to reconsider the roots of our modern understanding of this vital field. Holland’s meticulous research not only sheds light on a transformative period in intellectual history but also underscores the enduring importance of language in shaping our comprehension of the world.
