New technological developments and technology assessment: a plea for an integrated approach

In reaction to earlier attempts to influence the development of technology through technology assessment concepts, ‘Constructive Technology Assessment’ has recently been evolving. We criticize this CTA on fundamental and practical grounds, illustrated by a study on the possibility of a method of assessing the environmental effects of new engineering materials early in their life cycle. The fundamental criticisms are related to the popularity of social constructivist and network approaches in science studies. Our studies suggest that too little is known of both the structural aspects of networks, and on the way knowledge about a technology is structured in relation to its application.