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Description:
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The primary goal of this thesis is to show that Martin Heidegger's philosophy of
technology stems directly from his ontology . Specifically that his notion of technology ,
as the enframing destining spirit of this age , is a revelation of being itself as technology
in this age . The thesis begins with an introduction that sets up the major points and
briefly summarizes each of the chapters . Chapter I primarily deals with the question of
what motivates Heidegger to reflect philosophically on technology . This idea is also
broadened to include the basic experiences and concepts that might cause anyone to
reflect on technology . The historical , scientific , metaphysical , practical , personal , and
spiritual are the motivational forces that drive someone to philosophize about
technology . This is shown through an analysis of selected works from Iain Thomson ,
Don Ihde , W .P .S . Dias , and Hubert Dreyfus . The chapter ends with a return to the notion
of being . Chapter II mainly deals with a textual analysis of the introduction to Being and
Time , and The Question Concerning Technology . The idea of being is examined in
detail , and a workable notion of being is extracted from the text . Then Heidegger's
philosophy of technology is explained using the QCT . These ideas are put together and it
is shown that technology is being as the destining of this present age . Yet technology poses a danger to being , and indeed to humanity . The third chapter examines the
alternatives to this danger in the form of Heidegger's saving power , as discussed in his
essay The Turning . The lesser dangers of technology are also reconsidered , as the truth
of Heidegger's answer comes to light . The truth of the saving power is that releasement
towards a new destining will surmount the danger of technology . Yet this reveals that
being takes a care for humanity , and this opens up the path for the unconcealing of
God's active power in the world of technology . Ultimately , only God can save humanity
from the danger of technology , but He will only be revealed through the new destining
revealing of being . |