The Technological Imperative in Canada: An Intellectual History

Technology is and has always been the subject of critical debate. This wide-ranging, engaging book examines the ideas of Anglo Canadian theorists who saw technology as a new imperative that would either enhance or threaten the moral imperative. From the mid-nineteenth century onward, advocates argued that technology, as a moral force, would strengthen the ties that bound Canada to Britain and Western civilization, while opponents saw technology as a source of American power that threatened Canadian independence.

The Technological Imperative in Canada offers new insights into the ideas of influential Canadian theorists of technology such as Harold Innis and Marshall McLuhan and introduces readers to the ideas and perceptions of lesser-known but key figures such as Sandford Fleming, Stephen Leacock, and E. J. Pratt. This seminal book revises the entrenched notion that Anglo Canadian thought has been dominated by the moral imperative. It will appeal to anyone who wants a Canadian perspective on a critical subject.