Many fine thoughts here, but I was given pause by the statement "Etymologically, the word technology means “a better way of doing things.” I wonder where Horowitz sourced this from.
The OED doesn't have anything resembling this. Neither does etymonline. So I'm curious where this comes from.
The OED defines "technology" and offers references dating to 1615. I'll reproduce the OED's definitions here briefly:
1a: A discourse or treatise on an art or arts; the scientific study of the practical or industrial arts.
1b: Practical arts collectively.
1c: A particular practical or industrial art.
Even looking at the stem techno, you will not find anything approaching Horowitz's value judgment that he has inserted: better. Or worse for that matter. This sort of misappropriation of language is not only lazy, it's dangerous, and unfortunately it is pervasive.
"Technical" refers to industry, machines, science. Sticking "ology" on the end means the study of that. There is no value judgement about it implying better or worse.
The word technology comes from two Greek words, transliterated techne and logos. Techne means art, skill, craft, or the way, manner, or means by which a thing is gained. Logos means word, the utterance by which inward thought is expressed, a saying, or an expression. So, literally, technology means words or discourse about the way things are gained.
... but again, no implication at all that craft or skill implies better. I think there is a fundamental confusion somewhere along the way between 'technology' and 'innovation' which does imply better or improved. Google for Horowitz and the 'better way of doing things' and you find he's using it on a regular basis. Maybe it makes him feel better about things?
The OED doesn't have anything resembling this. Neither does etymonline. So I'm curious where this comes from.
The OED defines "technology" and offers references dating to 1615. I'll reproduce the OED's definitions here briefly:
1a: A discourse or treatise on an art or arts; the scientific study of the practical or industrial arts. 1b: Practical arts collectively. 1c: A particular practical or industrial art.
Even looking at the stem techno, you will not find anything approaching Horowitz's value judgment that he has inserted: better. Or worse for that matter. This sort of misappropriation of language is not only lazy, it's dangerous, and unfortunately it is pervasive.