ABSTRACT
Summary
Philosophy of technology is a subject in which one reflects on technological thinking and acting with regard to technology. Philosophy regarding technology has three functions. The analytical function means that one attempts to make good definitions of concepts and in this way to create a conceptual framework. The critical function is directed at having a discussion on the issue whether the working of technology is harmful or beneficial. The directional function attempts to determine what would be a good development of technology. Philosophy of technology is a relatively new subject field. In the past decades four themes have emerged: technology as artefacts, as knowledge, as processes and as a part of our being human.
Engineers are often practically minded people. After all, they are busy with things that are focused on everyday practice. They make things, maintain and repair technical apparatus, and design sophisticated systems. To be sure, technology is not merely a matter of dexterous hands, but also a matter of knowledge. One can study technology. But often that knowledge is of a practical nature and focused directly on its application in daily life. To most people philosophy is the direct opposite. It sometimes seems as if there is nothing practical at all in philosophy. This is a subject field generally regarded as a kind of unworldly activity. Philosophers ask bizarre questions, like: What is ‘being’?, What is ‘knowing’?, What is ‘time’?, What is ‘truth’? and What is ‘reality’? These questions sound particularly strange since the answers seem to be so obvious. Do we not all know the meaning of ‘being’, ‘knowing’, ‘time’, ‘truth’ and ‘reality’? What is the point in asking these questions? And, moreover, engineers think: how can the answer to such questions help me in my practical technical work? Thom Morris’s book Philosophy for Dummies (1999) was intended for a wide audience. In it he jokingly quotes Voltaire who is poking 4fun at himself while examining the (apparently) not so practical focus of philosophers. ‘If the listener does not comprehend the intention of the speaker, and if the speaker himself does not comprehend his intention, then you are dealing with philosophy’ (Morris, 1999: 14).
Indeed, the question of practical usefulness is not the most obvious one when philosophy is concerned. One might ask oneself whether the question of practical usefulness should indeed always be raised. For there are many areas in life where one would not ask such a question. Imagine, if in the choice of a partner one were led by the question of practical usefulness. However, these apparently very impractical questions become more relevant for engineers when we define them more closely. Thus one can, for instance, ask: What actually is a technical thing (which then really is the question of being, applied to technology)? When does one call something ‘natural’ and when does one call it ‘technical’? Or: What is technical knowledge and in what respects does it differ from scientific knowledge (or the question of knowing, but then applied to technology)? Is technology applied physical science or is it something different? For engineers who consciously strive to contribute to a healthy society, a philosophical reflection on technology is particularly useful, for it can help them to define their own technical thinking and conduct. Therefore, engineers would also have to count among the ‘reflective practitioners’ as Donald Schön (1983) calls them.
In this chapter we will be looking at three ways in which philosophy can help them in their reflection. Subsequently, we give consideration to the development of philosophy of technology and the themes which it lays on the table. We also discuss the specific perspective from which this book was written.
