Should Law Keep Pace With Technology? Law as Katechon. (October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Drechsler, Wolfgang; Kostakis, Vasilis
• Is Part Of: Bulletin of science, technology & society. Volume 34:Number 5/6(2014)
• Page Start: 128
• Page End: 132
• Publication Date: 2014-10
• Subjects: law and technology -- commons-based peer production -- technological change -- techno-determinism -- katechon; Science -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Technology -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 303.48305
• DOI: 10.1177/0270467615574330
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0270-4676

Abstract

It is a commonly held belief that the law is unable to keep up with the fierce technological development and innovation that denote our times. The current essay attempts to show that this characteristic of the law should not necessarily be considered a disadvantage. Using the Biblical concept of the katechon, we argue that the law fulfills a katechontic function vis-a-vis technological progress. That is to say, its retarding effect might create positive spillovers that open spaces for debate, discussion, contestation, resistance, and reconstruction.