MODULE 5: TECHNOLOGY AS A WAY OF REVEALING

BACKGROUND OF MARTIN HEIDEGGER

Martin Heidegger, born in Messkirch, Germany, on September 26, 1889, is a German philosopher
hailed for his works in existentialism, hermeneutics, and phenomenology. He first studied theology, but
switched to philosophy in 1911. Influences of his philosophy were Aristotle, Kant, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche,
Dilthey, and Husserl. Among his works were Being and Time, published in 1927, which was an important
work in European Philosophy and refers on his philosophy of being and existence. By 1930s to 1940s,
there was a supposed change in his type of work, which mainly focused on poetry and technology.
During this time, he wrote The Question Concerning Technology, published in 1954. Heidegger died in
1976 in Freiburg.

INSTRUMENTAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL VIEW OF TECHNOLOGY

The progress of science and technology is similar to the progress of human civilization: as man
flourishes, so does science and technology. However, in the pursuit of progress, man may acquire,
consume, or destroy, unknowingly or not, things that he or she should not. Thus, in order to appreciate
the benefits that humans get from science and technology, we must examine not only their utility or use
but their greater impact on humanity as a whole.
Martin Heidegger, in his work The Question of Technology, aimed to characterize technology and
how humans relate to it. He argued the importance of understanding the essence of technology because
no matter what we do, we will always be intertwined with technology.
He began his work by discussing how we usually understand technology. According to Heidegger,
technology is commonly understood as both a means to an end (an instrumental characterization of
technology) and a human activity (an anthropological characterization of technology). For Heidegger,
these two notions of technology are intertwined.
He said that this characterization of technology is correct, even for both traditional and modern
technology, but may not the whole truth. However, it is important to note that knowing what is “correct”
may lead to the “truth”. He asserted that “the essence of technology is by no means anything
technological,” the running theme of his essay. He also asserted that the notion that technology is neutral
is an important idea to dispel.

THE FOUR CAUSES AND THE CONCEPT OF POIESIS

Martin Heidegger delved in the question of causality. He used the ancient Greek’s way of looking
at causality to initially determine the essence of technology.
In his work, he discussed what we mean of cause by using the concept of the four causes: (1)
causa materialis, the material by which something is made up of; (2) causa formalis, the form of the
material that makes it what it is; (3) causa finalis, the purpose of the thing; and (4) causa efficiens, the
one which caused for the thing to be formed.
He used a silver chalice to illustrate the four causes: the chalice came about because of the silver
(causa materialis), the form of the chalice (causa formalis), and because there is a need to use a silver
chalice for some purpose, like religious traditions (causa finalis). It is commonly thought that the
silversmith, the one which made the chalice is the causa efficiens. These four causes are deemed to be
responsible of bringing forth something.
These four causes are deemed to be responsible of bringing forth something. This bringing forth is
termed poiesis Poeisis has two forms: bringing-forth through an external influence or poeisis and
bringing-forth that occurs naturally. Heidegger characterized poiesis as a kind of unveiling, or a way of
revealing. In Greek, revealing is aletheia, which can be translated as
“truth”,”disclosure”,”unconcealedness”.
THE ESSENCE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND THE CONCEPT OF ENFRAMING

The essence of technology was described in a general way. However, according to Heidegger,
modern technology is different since its way of bringing forth is not the same as that of poiesis, since the
bringing-forth of modern technology may not be as harmonious as pre-modern technology. The bringing-
forth is more of a challenging forth. Heidegger described modern technology as the age of switches,
standing reserve, and stockpiling for its own sake.
Humans now view objects for their future potential. A river is now viewed as a source of energy,
and not a river in itself. Humans are viewed for what they can do and not for who they are. Modern
technology leads to the abandonment of our uniqueness and form.
Because of this behavior of man, the attitude of enframing arises. It is as if nature is viewed as
calculable and orderable, is put in a box so that it can be better understood and controlled according to
people’s desires. When we enframe nature, we manipulate or control it, which might lead to negative
impacts.

THE DANGERS OF TECHNOLOGY

The concept of enframing how this orientation destines humans to view nature as standing reserve
which results to modern technology. Technology will become dangerous if we let ourselves be consumed
or controlled by it. This does not lie on the products of technology, but by its essence itself. According to
Heidegger, the danger lies “with the possibility that it could be denied to him to enter into a more original
revealing and hence to experience the call of a more primal truth”. If we try to enframe technology, we
block poiesis; that is, we fail to appreciate the beauty of technology and their development since we only
see them according to how they are used and the linear progression of their development.
To avoid this danger, however, it would be impractical to reject technology. Not using technology
will not enable us to see the truth that it reveals. It is important to realize that by understanding the
essence of technology, this opens the opportunity for a new way on how to view the world. When we
reorient ourselves, we will have a better relationship with technology.

ART AS THE SAVING POWER

According to Heidegger, if the danger of technology lies in its essence, the way out of these
dangers is also through its essence. Since technology is a way of revealing, Heidegger suggests that art
is a way out enframing.
Remember that in enframing, we usually use calculative thinking, a way of thinking which involves
ordering and systematizing nature so one can better understand it. Calculative thinking avoids
unpredictability, which is what humans usually prefer or use. However, in art, we usually employ
meditative thinking, a way of thinking which allows nature to reveal itself to us without forcing it. Through
meditative thinking, one will think of the significance of technology more than its utility. This is when we
see the beauty of nature itself.
Heidegger concluded his work by saying that “questioning is the piety of thought.” Piety, according
to Heidegger, means obedience and submission. He said that through questioning, we gain
understanding of what we are in the greater scheme of things and what modern technology has brought
us. Through questioning, we build the way of knowing the truth of who we are in the world.

SUMMARY

 Technology can be defined instrumentally (manufacturing and utilizing equipment, tools, and
machines, the things themselves, and the needs and ends these things serve) and
 anthropologically (positing ends and procuring and utilizing the means to them). However,
Heidegger believed that though this must be correct, it does not necessarily mean it is true.
 Technology is a mode of revealing, for it is a way to reveal truth that is more meaningful than the
superficial or practical use of technology. According to Heiddeger, technology is a poiesis that
discloses the truth.
 For modern technology, the bringing forth may not be as harmonious, because the resources are
taken from nature forcibly and the demand of people are never-ending. Thus, revealing has no
end since everything is on-demand. Instead of working harmoniously with nature, we control it.
 It is through enframing that modern technology reveals. This leads to the dangers of technology.
 According to Heidegger, art is a way out enframing. Art leads us from calculative to meditative
thinking, and we will be able to see the beauty of technology.