Seminar on Transdisciplinary (Technology and Economy)1

Academic unit or major

Humanities and social science courses

Instructor(s)

Kei Ehara / Toma Kawanishi

Class Format

Exercise (Face-to-face)

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

Intensive

Class

-

Course Code

LAH.T260

Number of credits

020

Course offered

2023

Offered quarter

1-2Q

Syllabus updated

Jul 8, 2025

Language

Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

This course is held every Monday in periods 7 and 8. Note that this is NOT an intensive course. Guidance will be held on the first day (10 Apr) in Room 910, West Bldg 9.

In this course, students will read texts of thinkers who have discussed technology and political economy. Through a reading of classic texts, we will discover the underlying structure of contemporary society from the perspective of both the history of technology and economy. Until the first half of the 20th century, the relationship between technology and political economy was closer. The thinkers of the time were traversing both fields, and provided the important viewpoints that are relevant even in discussing contemporary issues of technology and economy. Therefore, the reading of the classical literature in this field requires knowledge of both technology and economy.
In this course, teachers of the history of technology and political economy will collaborate to read the classical literature, which is now rarely visited, but has not lost its importance.
The literature to be read will be decided in discussion with the participants, but as our literature list includes various language literature (Japanese, English and German), a certain level of language proficiency will be required.

Course description and aims

1) Acquire methods of critical reading.
2) Acquire humanities and social science knowledge that relates and examines technology and political economy.

Keywords

History of Technology, Political Economy

Competencies

• Specialist skills
• Intercultural skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Reading materials every Monday, 7-8 periods.

Course schedule/Objectives

Study advice (preparation and review)

Textbook(s)

TBA

Reference books, course materials, etc.

TBA

Evaluation methods and criteria

Providing class materials (30%), Discussion (70%)

Related courses

• LAH.S109 ： Economics A
• LAH.S209 ： Economics B
• LAH.S310 ： Economics C
• LAH.S407 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences7:Economics
• LAH.T103 ： History of Technology A
• LAH.T203 ： History of Technology B
• LAH.T303 ： History of Technology C
• LAH.S416 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences16:History of Technology

Prerequisites

High-level Japanese literacy, medium-level English and/or German literacy

Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).

ehara.k.ac [at] m.titech.ac.jp, kawanishi.t.ac [at] m.titech.ac.jp