This chapter presents several leading philosophical and sociological perspectives that help us to make sense of the relation between technology and the human condition. It focuses on six central themes. With Marx, it discusses the issue of alienation; with Feenberg and other critical scholars it explores the dominating force of instrumental reason; with Heidegger it discusses the way modern technology ‘enframes’ existence; with Foucault it explores how technologies may discipline and control the self; with Arendt it discusses how technologies may be involved in totalitarian modes of governance; and with Haraway it argues how technology can both sustain and go beyond sexism and discrimination in society.