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Devicing future populations: Problematizing the relationship between quantity and quality of life
1Department of Sociology, Durham University, Durham, UK.
Social Studies of Science
|February 27, 2019
Summary
Societies shifted from measuring life and death to assessing health and disability. This transition involved analyzing how calculative devices and collective investigations reshaped population management in insurance societies.
Area of Science:
- Sociology of Science and Technology
- Health Economics
- Population Studies
Background:
- Modern societies have shifted focus from mortality rates to health and disability metrics.
- Understanding the transition requires analyzing sociotechnical networks and data infrastructures.
- Life expectancy forecasts are central to population management and insurance calculations.
Observation:
- A 1983 US Senate hearing on life expectancy forecasts serves as a case study.
- The hearing transformed differing projections into a debate on population vitality and health.
- Analysis focuses on the role of 'calculative devices' in shaping expertise and expectations.
Findings:
- Calculative devices critically influenced the relationship between expertise, data, and health outcomes.
- The transition was facilitated by a collective examination of population management tools.
- Sociotechnical networks and instruments were reconfigured during the hearing.
Implications:
- This study offers insights into the evolution of population health metrics.
- It highlights the impact of calculative tools on policy and public health.
- Understanding these shifts is crucial for contemporary health and longevity assessments.
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