Melvin Kranzberg

Melvin Kranzberg ( born November 22, 1917 in St. Louis, Missouri; † 6 December 1995) was an American art historian. Among other things, according to him, the six " Kranzberg 's Laws " named.

Kranzberg studied at Amherst College and at Harvard College, where he received the PhD degree. During the Second World War he served as a soldier in Europe.

He was a founder of the Society for the History of Technology in the United States whose Leonardo da Vinci Medal he received in 1967. Kranzberg is known in addition to his work as a scientist for his technology laws, on the one hand have a serious scientific core, on the other hand, however, must be understood with a certain twinkle in his eye.

Kranzbergsche laws

• The first Kranzbergsche Law: Technology is neither good nor evil; nor is it neutral.
• The Second Kranzbergsche Law: inventions generate new needs. ( "Invention is the mother of necessity. " )
• The Third Kranzbergsche Law: Technology is delivered in ( small or large ) packages.
• The Fourth Kranzbergsche law: Although technology may be a major element in many public issues, nontechnical factors determine the policy decisions.
• The Fifth Kranzbergsche Law: The history is important, but the history of technology is most important.
• The Sixth Kranzbergsche Law: Technology is a very human activity - and the history of technology also.

Writings

• Melvin Kranzberg: Technology and History: ' Kranzberg 's Laws '. Technology and Culture. 27 (3), 1986, pp. 544-560.