Technology and Its Philosophy - Essay Example

Technology and its philosophy Philosophy is an activity of pursuing a reflective interpretation of ourselves and of social and natural worlds we occupy. We apply philosophy by critically questioning the suppositions made and the conclusions deduced by the social and natural scientists, historians, writers and scholars of all sorts. At an early phase of indication, we may solely pursue to combine the different perspectives into a wider interpretation. The issue between the various ideas creates a need for critical examination of the fundamental presumptions so that it can be decided that what is and what is not to be maintained. However different philosophers differ greatly with each other in their primary perspectives, opinions and point of views, but it still remains a very prominent attribute and feature of philosophy that the search for truth is primary. We start by presuming that there are correct and incorrect answers to the most extensive questions and that its procedure for determining the truth is just a rational argument. Basically philosophy is the study of the basic nature of existence, knowledge and reality (Oxford Dictionaries, n.pag.). Technology has derived greatly from philosophical ideas that which were once thought, has been executed into action now. All in all, the various technologies that the world has developed have their philosophical repercussions as they threaten the security and privacy of people, and take them into a realm of virtual existence. It is mainly because of technology that most of the contemporary society hangs together. It is very important not just because it is an economic force but also because it is a cultural force. Actually during the previous two centuries, when technology slowly and gradually appeared as a subject, the philosophy of technology has mainly been worried about the impact that technology will and can have on the society, the culture and the people, rather than it been concerned about technology itself. Philosophy lends itself to technology, which in the recent years has transformed widely since its inception. Mostly the philosophies about technology talk about its affects on the people rather than considering what is being displayed by the mediums of technology. Major philosophies about technology concern the effect of such modern machines on the world rather than how the things being displayed are brought into process. Indeed, communication has been enhanced however there are deeper implications to having immersed oneself into a digitalized life. And this is the area where one cogitates the most about technological aspects that involve contemplation. Recently a new subdivision of the philosophy of technology has been evolved and introduced that is related with technology itself and that it targets to comprehend the application of creating and designing artifacts and the character of the things that are created in the artifacts. This modern subdivision of the philosophy of technology pursues continuity and connection with the philosophy of science and with many various grounds in the analytic customs in modern philosophy. Some other fields that the philosophy of technology connects with are the philosophies of decision making and action rather than with the philosophies that were continued by the other subdivisions that regarded technology’s effect on the world such as humanities and social sciences. Philosophy of technology, particularly of the present times, aims to consider their impact on modern life where a great proportion of work is automated and digitalized. Philosophy lends itself to many aspects of technology. In particular, philosophy has greatly contributed to computer science, particularly the branch relating to artificial intelligence (AI) and the way computerized systems can be programmed in order to stimulate a similar thinking model of the human brain. The human brain is no doubt a specialized organ integrated with thousands of neurons, nerve cells, and networked channels that allow information to be carried quickly within. Developing an artificial structure that imitates the thinking model of a human brain is no easy but it demonstrated deep thinking and application of ideas to produce an automated computer system capable of making human like decisions. According to William J. Rapaport, philosophy has not only contributed to the discipline of artificial intelligence (AI), but beyond that domain as well (319). Often computer scientists are faced with ethical and metaphysical issues relating to computer science or artificial intelligence that they cannot avoid seeking philosophical models to understand the impact of technology. Understanding the link between computer science and philosophy allows us to realize the importance of philosophy in an age characterized by technological advancements. In the world of pervasive social media and smart phone technology, many may argue that privacy and security have been compromised. In present times, technology is ubiquitous in the form of new gadgets, communicational infrastructure, information technology (IT), and so on. The pervasiveness of technology has made it impossible to escape its presence. The technological aspect of today’s fast paced life often stirs up debates regarding its usage and the many moral issues that come to surface. Technology is symbolized by scientific innovations focused at making life easier and more convenient. However, the increased involvement of technology into our lives has given rise to human concerns in a rather philosophical respect (Ferré, 9). According to Erwin Marquit, technological issues saw philosophical involvement in the first part of the twentieth century when interest in technology developed after the Second World War (n.pag.). This is especially because the period after World War II saw a great move towards nuclear weaponry and the associated social, political, and economic concerns. However, the downsides of technology or deeper implications were more easily understood when studied under the light of philosophy. Privacy intrusion is one issue. However, when one considers the most basic metaphysical question tackled by philosophers, that is, what is reality, s/he understands the world of illusions created by current technologies. Social media networks are often outlets for narcissism and hubs of illusory glorifications. The world of social media is largely illusory and a philosophical speculation addressing the question regarding truth and reality may identify the flaws in the system. Philosophy is usually studied with respect to technology’s increased involvement in modern life. It is not necessarily concerned with the negative aspects of technology but philosophers of technology often consider the social situation and construction of technology within the society. Not only have philosophers studied the subject in modern times but older philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Francis Bacon and Martin Heidegger who contemplated about the making of things (Reydon, n.pag.). Though it may seem like an unscientific subject but the ancient construction, architecture and engineering also involved as much science. As such, the construction of mechanical objects can be classified as a technological endeavor. In his article, Hans Jonas has made an argument about the relationship between technology and philosophy as interlinked domains (34). He has used the human aspect to explain the relationship between philosophy and technology, which is greatly rotted in human involvement whether mentally, physically, or spiritually. The way an individual leads his or her life is closely tied with his interaction with the world. Even humanistic concepts like war, peace, politics, and so on where human involvement is evident, also involves the usage of technology. The presence of philosophy of art, science, and history also necessitates the presence of a philosophy of technology. However, the advent of technology has presented many challenges that can be answered by philosophical means. In an essay, David Cooper has analyzed technology from two polar aspects namely liberation or enslavement (7). These extreme factors aim to examine the implications of technology in terms of usefulness or unnecessary engagement. Indeed, a consideration of these two factors revolves around the philosophy of ethical and moral concerns surrounding technological usage by humans. While technology has made life easier with automated services, it has also enslaved Man with constant engagement in front of say, a computer screen. The enrichment of content on social media has attracted more attention towards technological gadgets. Rather than being considered objects made for convenience, technological gadgets are rather serving the opposite purpose. People can be noticed deeply involved with their smart phones that they fail to notice their surrounding environment sometimes. The engagement of human attention with the advent of technology has proved to be a significant philosophical concern. Taking a philosophical stance on the debate, one can argue about the purpose of technological gadgets and the systematic enslavement of Man as a human object. Philosophy and technology are closely tied with each other as subjects. In fact, technology derives greatly from the discipline of philosophy. Even early Greek philosophers like Aristotle and Plato spoke of technology as ‘making of mechanical things’. Hence, early references are available regarding philosophers and technology. Modern technology has stirred up arguments regarding its usage for convenience or unnecessary engagement. Works Cited Cooper, David E. Technology: Liberation Or Enslavement. Philosophy And Technology. Roger Fellows. 1st ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995. Print. Ferré, Frederick. Philosophy Of Technology. 1st ed. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1995. Print. Jonas, Hans. Toward A Philosophy Of Technology. Hastings Center Report 9.1 (1979): 34--43. Print. Marquit, Erwin. Philosophy Of Technology. Encyclopedia of Applied Physics 13 (1995): 417–29. Print. Philosophy. Oxford Dictionaries 2014. Web. 8 Sep. 2014. Rapaport, William J. Philosophy Of Computer Science: An Introductory Course Philosophy Of Computer Science: An Introductory Course. (2005): n. pag. Print. Reydon, Thomas A.C. Philosophy Of Technology. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2012): n. pag. Web. 8 Sep. 2014. Read More