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4.3 tying together sociotechnical imaginaries and scot 33
results in one social group’s meaning becoming dominant« [2], the
concept of STI allows for a new interpretation. Assuming a new imaginary
»encode[s] and reinforce[s] particular conceptions of what a
nation stands for?« [27, 120], it might just as well be that a new meaning
emerges out of the discourse that then redefines the constitution
of relevant social groups. Going with the United States’ motto ’e
pluribus unum - out of many, one’, the zeppelin could in this way be
depicted as an important factor for the unification of a fragmented
society.
4.3 tying together sociotechnical imaginaries and scot
As the zeppelin case will show, the pursuit of a vision, the development
of a technology not as a reaction to current challenges but as an
effort to push boundaries can be a driving force. The development of
a shared vision can thus open up entirely new technological spaces
(in opposition to gradual development over a large timespan) and
secondly the shared vision can itself, as quoted from Jasanoff above
»encode and reinforce particular conceptions of what a nation stands
for« by providing a piece of shared identity. It is not limited to applying
an existing technology to present challenges, but it enables one to
open up entirely new fields – scenarios that are yet only imaginable
and seem unrealistic.
Imaginaries and their orientation towards the future bring along
some very substantial aspects that greatly enhance the interpretative
flexibility of an artifact. First of all, the point of time at which the
imagined is to become reality can remain indefinite. In other words,
the imaginary has at (almost) no point to be declared as failed - the
vision can rather be adjusted to changing surrounding conditions and
prerequisites. Just as well, time can simply remain opaque: a reference
to the future - whatever that means - can be enough to create an
expectation or make others start imagining themselves. Second, not
only can the vision be adapted. The imagined future can be made
more likely to actually unfold by own actions. These prospects and
actions, however, change the present - and the actor itself as well as
his or her behavior. This active pursuit of one’s future allows for an
actor or a group of them to change and adapt in order to make one
particular vision of the future more likely. Moreover, the futuristic
character of the imaginary frees the vision from the restriction to rely
on existing and/or realistic technologies. As it is about what is going
to be, not what is, the range of what can be envisioned increases
dramatically. Technological development has not to be thought in
consecutive steps but can be seen from the end - which might ease
engagement into a long process in contrast to seeing the process from
the beginning. Thus those imaginaries can be ahead of their time and