The Logics of Anti-Efficiency – On the Need of Technological »Translations«

Authors : Anil K JAİN

Pages : 168-193

View : 11 | Download : 10

Publication Date : 2021-12-31

Article Type : Review Paper

Abstract :In modern society and economy the principle of efficiency is omnipresent. Even in the discourse of sustainability – which, in many aspects, represents a challenge to modern visions of progress and Western »way of life« – resource and energy efficiency are seen as crucial factors. However, »instrumental reason«, which is underlying efficiency, has not only been criticized by the Frankfurt school insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(see Horkheimer 2013 [1947]);. There is a long tradition, which ranges from Rousseau insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2019 [1755]); to Batailles insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1985);, which questions the models of progress coupled so closely with efficiency. Today, »commercialization« insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(see e.g. Hochschild 2003); and »economization« insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(see e.g. Murphy 2016); are prominent lines of discourse which do express similar objections to the efficiency principle. What is more, recent phenomenons of insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(pandemic); crisis demonstrate that following the path of efficiency may lead to paradoxical effects, in that the ability of the health system to cope with stress was especially poor in the most efficient ones insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(like in Italy);: efficiency thus proofed to be very inefficient in pandemic times insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(see e.g. Popic 2020);. Likewise, in the past, the effectiveness of the critique of efficiency has been very limited. One of the reasons for this disproportion could be that the voices of critique insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(of efficiency); were unable to manifest in technology which is a major driving force of modern society and economy. Accordingly, the logics of anti-efficiency – i.e. logics of relationship, emotion, innovation, etc. – must not only be formulated theoretically but »translated« into technology in order to become effective.
Keywords : efficiency, anti efficiency, economization, instrumental reason, technology, translation