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The Search for Trust: Technology, Religion, and Society’s Dis-Ease

Rochester Institute of Technology, fafgsh{at}rit.edu

Frederick Foltz

Rochester Institute of Technology

Modern technology, and information technology in particular, has changed the nature of human interaction, which has created a certain "disease" as more and more transactions move from the familiarity of traditional community to the abstractness of modern society. This article explores two studies of trust that emerged in the past decade as a result of this "disease." The first, rational choice, redefines trust as a risk management tool. The second, social capital, reexamines the traditional concept in light of the present situation. Our study compares both definitions with traditional Judeo-Christian conceptions of trust and measures them against the demands of the new world introduced by the Internet. We find that both definitions are lacking, offering little reason to speak of trust outside of direct human interaction. The studies reveal severe limitations when attempting to mediate trust by technology.

Key Words: trust • technology • religion • Internet

Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, Vol. 25, No. 2, 115-128 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0270467604272641


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