The three-dimensional Evolution of Human Work: Some Methodological Consequences for Social and Historical Research

Abstract

The threefold evolutions of human work in the technological, social and cybernetic dimensions all contribute to the same
two major epistemological and methodological consequences: 1) First Order problems result fro the increasing dificulty of
interpreting any historical remains and data (artifacts, texts, figures, pictures, videos, software programs and everything
else) because ever more contextual information has to be added in order to understand what such data effectively mean.
This demands a shift from “atomistic” to “holistic-systemic” perspectives insofar as the knowledge about very encompassing
technological and social systems is decisive whether and to what extent the meaning and function of lower-order objects or
processes can be identified. 2) Second Order order epistemological problems arise from the fact that are themselves confronted
with the same cognitive complexities as any outside observers who do social research. Future researchers will have
extreme difficulties to reconstruct the cognitive mind set of past actors, because no adequate and consensual subjective
perceptions and interpretations can be assumed.