Beyond or within the limits? A misleading dilemma for current technological processes

The concept of limit offers an opportunity to summarise some milestones in the evolution of technological processes. Although this concept is theoretically and empirically problematic in the light of contemporary scenarios, both as a factor that generates processes and as a demarcation between natur...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Maria Luisa Germanà
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Firenze University Press 2025-07-01
Series:Techne
Subjects:
Online Access:https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/techne/article/view/18101
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849707268212260864
author Maria Luisa Germanà
author_facet Maria Luisa Germanà
author_sort Maria Luisa Germanà
collection DOAJ
description The concept of limit offers an opportunity to summarise some milestones in the evolution of technological processes. Although this concept is theoretically and empirically problematic in the light of contemporary scenarios, both as a factor that generates processes and as a demarcation between nature and artifice, it remains essential in at least two areas, namely innovation and sustainability. Indeed, a series of material and immaterial limits influence, and sometimes impair, implementation of the technological processes. The incentive to manage these limits has often acted as a lever for innovation, both in terms of processes and products. Above all, dealing with limits has been at the heart of the orientation towards sustainability since its inception. The scientific community and the general public have come to terms with the finite nature of non-renewable natural resources and with the need to limit emissions. In both cases, the limit is used as a warning, with fear of the transition from alarm bell to death knell for the planet. The concept of limit is also relevant to the adaptation strategies to Climate Change. However, the concept of limit as something that clearly establishes a “within” and a “beyond” has supported a misleading dilemma in the face of the development of global economy. A change of approach is, therefore, called for, replacing the opposition of the limit by the integration of the continuum, bearing in mind that the right time and the right measure have always been an indispensable qualitative range for technological processes characterised by ethical principles.
format Article
id doaj-art-d02377ac0ca14fd8827a79f9a0a80f83
institution DOAJ
issn 2239-0243
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Firenze University Press
record_format Article
series Techne
spelling doaj-art-d02377ac0ca14fd8827a79f9a0a80f832025-08-20T03:15:57ZengFirenze University PressTechne2239-02432025-07-01310.36253/techne-18101Beyond or within the limits? A misleading dilemma for current technological processesMaria Luisa Germanà0Department of Architecture, Università di Palermo, ItalyThe concept of limit offers an opportunity to summarise some milestones in the evolution of technological processes. Although this concept is theoretically and empirically problematic in the light of contemporary scenarios, both as a factor that generates processes and as a demarcation between nature and artifice, it remains essential in at least two areas, namely innovation and sustainability. Indeed, a series of material and immaterial limits influence, and sometimes impair, implementation of the technological processes. The incentive to manage these limits has often acted as a lever for innovation, both in terms of processes and products. Above all, dealing with limits has been at the heart of the orientation towards sustainability since its inception. The scientific community and the general public have come to terms with the finite nature of non-renewable natural resources and with the need to limit emissions. In both cases, the limit is used as a warning, with fear of the transition from alarm bell to death knell for the planet. The concept of limit is also relevant to the adaptation strategies to Climate Change. However, the concept of limit as something that clearly establishes a “within” and a “beyond” has supported a misleading dilemma in the face of the development of global economy. A change of approach is, therefore, called for, replacing the opposition of the limit by the integration of the continuum, bearing in mind that the right time and the right measure have always been an indispensable qualitative range for technological processes characterised by ethical principles. https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/techne/article/view/18101 LimitsTechnological ProcessTechnological ProductClimate changesInnovation
spellingShingle Maria Luisa Germanà
Beyond or within the limits? A misleading dilemma for current technological processes
Techne
Limits
Technological Process
Technological Product
Climate changes
Innovation
title Beyond or within the limits? A misleading dilemma for current technological processes
title_full Beyond or within the limits? A misleading dilemma for current technological processes
title_fullStr Beyond or within the limits? A misleading dilemma for current technological processes
title_full_unstemmed Beyond or within the limits? A misleading dilemma for current technological processes
title_short Beyond or within the limits? A misleading dilemma for current technological processes
title_sort beyond or within the limits a misleading dilemma for current technological processes
topic Limits
Technological Process
Technological Product
Climate changes
Innovation
url https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/techne/article/view/18101
work_keys_str_mv AT marialuisagermana beyondorwithinthelimitsamisleadingdilemmaforcurrenttechnologicalprocesses