The Human Person
Flourishing in Terms
of Science &
Technology
Philosophical Views on
Technology
ARISTOTELIANISM
Technology is a means
to an end.
Technological Pessimism
 Supported by French Philosopher Jacques
Ellul (1912-1994)
 Technological progress has a price to pay.
 Technological progress creates more
problems.
 Technological progress creates damaging
effects.
Technology can alleviate all
the difficulties and provide
solution for problems that may
come.
Technological
Optimism
Technology is the answer to all
man’s problems.
Strongly supported by
technologists and engineers
including ordinary people.
Martin Heidegger (1889–1976)
 Heidegger was a German
philosopher and one of the most
influential philosophers of the
20th century.
 For Heidegger, technology was
an important element in his
work and the key to
understanding our current time
Three main claims of Heidegger
(1) technology is “not an instrument”, it is a
way of understanding the world;
(2) technology is “not a human activity”, but
develops beyond human control; and
(3) technology is “the highest danger”,
risking us to only see the world through
technological thinking
The Essence of Technology by Martin Heidegger
 In his essay “The Question Concerning
Technology,” Heidegger asks, what is the
“essence” of technology?
 Directing that question at modern
technology, especially powerful machines,
Heidegger gives the answer: “enframing.”
The Essence of Technology by Martin Heidegger
Heidegger believed that the
real essence of technology is
found in enframing.
Enframing is the continuous
bringing forth of the concealed
to unconcealment.
Heidegger Viewed
Technology as a
Way of Revealing
An ancient windmill relies
only on the wind blowing
in contrast to the modern
windmill which may
unlock the energy.
Heidegger said
modern
technology sets a
challenge upon
nature.
◦ For instance, a power plant built into the river Rhine that forces
the Rhine to show itself as a supplier of energy versus a bridge
built over the Rhine that respects the floating of the Rhine itself
and doesn’t force it to show itself as a supplier of energy.
◦ Or a windmill that’s always dependent on the question whether
there’s wind or not for its functioning. It doesn’t force the winds
to show itself as a supplier of energy, but it feeds itself into
nature.
Heidegger’s
Technology as a
Way of Revealing
 The farmer planting
seeds as against
modern technology
of cultivation
When people become
fully engrossed with
the enframing and fails
to weigh the results
and consequences of
setting upon an object.
When people start to
believe that
everything in human
condition can be
answered by
technology!
Synthesis
 People tend to find their happiness in the works of
modern technology Smart phones, tablets, laptops, etc. that come in different shapes and
sizes with distinct features - seem to be the measure of a person’s value.
Social media has also affected the lives of many. Face-to-face social
interactions are being lessened and people keep working hard to update their
gadgets.
 This
human condition is not of without hope. Heidegger argued that
this can be prevented if people will not allow themselves to be
overwhelmed with the enframing that they were set upon but should pause
for a while and reflect on the value of what is presented before them.
People should not be controlling and manipulative of what they were set
upon but to also allow nature to reveal itself. With this, according to
Heidegger, people will have a free relationship with technology.
Existentialism
 Supported by Martin Heidegger
(1889-1996)
 A philosophical theory that people
are free agents who have control
over their choices and actions.
End of Presentation