Teacher’s Note

This section will tackle the philosophy of Martin Heidegger

and his famous lecture on “The Question Concerning
Technology”. He explains the essence of technology as a
way of revealing the truth.
MARTIN HEIDEGGER (1889-1976)

- known for his lecture on

“The Question Concerning
Technology”
- A German Philosopher
acknowledged to be one of the
most important philosophers of the
20th century
- A member of the Nazi Party
- A complex writer and thinker
Summary of Heidegger’s Views
1. The essence of technology
2. Technology is a way of revealing
3. Pre-industrialized technology vs modern technology
4. Bringing forth vs. Challenging forth
5. Calculative thinking vs Meditative thinking
6. The dangers of technology
7. Art is the saving power
8. Questioning is the piety of thought
1. The Essence of Technology
Two widely embraced definitions of technology:
1. Instrumental definition: Technology is a means to an
end.
2. Anthropological definition: Technology is a human
activity.

According to Heidegger, neither of these definitions

touches the true essence of technology.
2. Technology is a way of revealing
Teacher’s Note

Naniniwala si Heidegger na tama ang instrumental at

anthropological definition ng technology pero hindi raw
ito ang tunay na essence ng technology, para sa kaniya,
ang essence ng technology ay “it acts as a way of
revealing or bringing something out of concealment” o
tinatawag rin sa Greek philosophical concept na
“poeisis”.
Ps. Tandaan na si Heidegger ay isang philosopher, hindi niya tinitignan ang
isang sitwasyon o konsepto sa mababaw or obvious na pananaw.
Teacher’s Note

For Heidegger, technology is a form of “poeisis” (way of

revealing) that unconceals “aletheia” (the truth)

In philosophy, “techne” (greek term for technology)

resembles the term “episteme” (the human ability to
make and perform).
3. Pre-industrialized technology vs Modern technology

Teacher’s Note

The difference between the two, to put it simply, was,

during pre-industrialized technology, our relationship with
nature was once as steward or tagapangalaga, but now
in modern technology, humans act as both master and
slave to nature.
4. Bringing forth vs challenging forth

Pre-industrialized technology reveals as “bringing

forth the truth in the sense of poeisis”

while

Modern technology reveals as “challenging forth in

the process of enframing”
4. Bringing forth vs challenging forth
Teacher’s Note

Bringing-forth is a mode of revealing the essence of something

through means of craftsmanship or other artistic processes.

For example, imagine a block of marble. The marble is its own

subject with its own essence, the sculptor then takes the chisel
and uses it as a tool to reveal the essence of the sculpture within.
The craftsman did not manufacture, he revealed. The dignity of
the marble itself still stands, just in a new form.
4. Bringing forth vs challenging forth
Teacher’s Note
Challenging forth, on the other hand, is a mode of revealing
which prompts people into dominating and enframing the earth’s
natural resources. It reduces objects as standing-reserve or
something to be disposed by humans with very little concern on
its ecological consequences.
For example, humans see trees as raw material for paper or buildings which
reduces the essence of “tree” to a mere “resource”. When the tree
becomes a paper, the original dignity of the tree is not there anymore.
Ps. Enframing is the way of ordering or framing nature to better manipulate it. It
happens because humans desire for security, and puts nature as standing-
reserve for exploitation
5. Calculative thinking vs Meditative Thinking

In calculative thinking, humans desire to put an

order to nature to better understand and control it.

In meditative thinking, humans allow nature to

reveal itself to them without the use of force and
violence.
6. The dangers of technology
The dangers of technology lie in how humans let
themselves be consumed by it.

For example, the use of social media comes with both

benefits and drawbacks. It has connected us to people in
the most efficient and convenient way but also gave rise
to issues of invasion of privacy and proliferation of fake
news. Recognizing the dangers of technology requires
critical and reflective thinking on its use.
7. Art is the saving power
“Where danger is, grows the saving power also.” quoted
by Heidegger from German poet, Friedrich Holderlin.

Heidegger sees art as the saving power from the dangers

of technology. By focusing on art, humans will be able to
see how art is embedded in nature.
7. Art is the saving power
Teacher’s Note
In Heidegger's view, Arts is less concerned with measuring,
classifying, and exploiting the resources of the world. Arts believes in
the process of revealing something that gives dignity to existence.
We should not think that Heidegger suggests that we should all
become artists, but rather we incorporate more of the artists’ and
poets’ vision into our own view of the world. By doing so, we can
guard against the dangers of enframing, and enter into a free,
constantly critical, questioning relationship with the technology
which influences our lives.
8. Questioning is the Piety of Thought
Teacher’s Note

Heidegger is concerned with questioning the essence of

technology, in particular, modern technology (remember that
according to Heidegger, there’s a difference between pre-
industrialized technology and modern technology).
The purpose of questioning technology is therefore to break the
chains of technology and be free, not in the absence of
technology but through a better understanding of its essence
and meaning.
Ps. Piety means spirituality.
Teacher’s Note

Ang sakit sa ulo ng philosophy huhuhu

Teacher’s Note

This section will present Jason Hickel’s development

framework focused on de-development as an alternative
to narrowing the gap between rich and poor countries.
JASON HICKEL

- known for his article: Forget

developing poor countries,
it’s time to de-develop rich
countries
- An anthropologist at London
School of Economics
Key Points to Remember

1. The earth only has enough resources for each inhabitant to

consume 1.8 “global hectares” annually (a standardized unit
that measures use and waste).
2. As cited by Hickel from Economist Peter Edward, instead of
pushing poorer countries to “catch up” with the rich ones, we
should be thinking of ways to get rich countries to “catch
down” to more appropriate levels of development and justify
their excesses.
3. 70% of people in middle and high-income countries believe
that overconsumption is putting our planet and society at risk.
Teacher’s Note

This section will introduce Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics

which consists of ten books. This was dedicated to one of
his sons named Nichomacus. In this book he tackled
important concepts of eudaimonia and arête and how
can this be used to deal with science and technology.
ARISTOTLE (384 BC – 322 BC)

- known for Nichomachean

Ethics
- One of the most important
Greek philosopher
- A student of Plato
Key Points to Remember

1. The Nichomachean Ethics is a treatise on the nature of moral

life and human happiness based on the unique essence of
human nature.

2. There are two types of good: instrumental good and intrinsic

good.
a. Instrumental good: something considered as a means to
some other good; i.e., an instrumental good leads to
something else that is good.
b. Intrinsic good: something worthwhile not because it leads to
something else, but for its own sake alone; i.e., Good-in-itself.
Key Points to Remember

3. Unlike pleasure, wealth, fame, and honor, happiness or

Eudaimonia is the ultimate good. In the Aristotelian sense,
happiness is “living well and doing well”.

4. Happiness or eudaimonia is a uniquely human function for

it can only be achieved through a life guided by reason, and
only humans were capable of rational, theoretical and
practical functions.

Ps. Eudaimonia comes from Greek words “eu” meaning good; and
“daimon” meaning spirit.
Key Points to Remember

5. Happiness or eudaimonia defines a good life.

6. A virtue is what makes one function well.

7. Two types of virtue: intellectual virtue and moral virtue.

a. Intellectual virtue – virtue of thought achieved through
education, time and experience. Key intellectual virtues
are wisdom (which guides ethical behaviors) and
understanding (gained from scientific endeavors)
b. Moral virtue – virtue of character achieved through
habitual practice.
Key Points to Remember

8. Arête is defined as excellence of any kind and can also be

defined as moral virtue.

9. Both intellectual and moral virtue should be in accordance

with reason to achieve Eudaimonia.

10. What then is the good life?

“The good life is the state of being happy, healthy, and
prosperous in the way one thinks, lives and acts. The
path to the good life consists of the virtues of thought
and character.”