Essence

precedes
existence.
Ja!

MARTIN
HEIDEGGER
(1889-1976)
Major Works
 Being and Time (1927)
 Basic Problems of Phenomenology (1927)
 “What is Metaphysics?” (1929)
 Kant and the Problem of Metaphysics (1929)
 An Introduction to Metaphysics (1953)

 “The Question Concerning

Technology” (1954)
Major Ideas
 Phenomenology: Philosophical analysis of the nature
and qualities of immediate experience, and analysis of
objects solely as we are immediately conscious of
them-- not in relation to any possible scientific
understanding of them.
 Existentialism: The idea that human existence is a
peculiar kind of existence “in and for itself.”
 Human existence is open and undetermined. The essence of
a human being is shaped by the decisions and commitments
made in an individual life. “Existence precedes essence.”
 Essence precedes existence
 Hammer vs. Human

Humans are aware of

Hammer:
their I am alive!
existence and(existence)
can
adjust their
Hammer: essence.
Now, I am a hammer
(essence)
Human: I am alive! (existence)

Human: Now, I am a …
(essence)
 So… What now?
Heidegger’s Approach to Metaphysics
“Da-sein”: “Being-there,” “being-in-the-world,” existing in
connection with things in the world instead of “being” a
detached observer.

Metaphysical “angst”: the dread that comes from sensing

that, beyond the totality of “what-is,” there is Nothing.

“Resoluteness”: the response of an authentic character to

the angst about Nothing and the emptiness of Death.
 So… What now?
Heidegger’s Approach to Metaphysics

“Care” (Sorge): sense of connection and responsibility

instead of mere objective observation of things

“Community”: the group of people within which the

individual finds an identity and a common destiny--
especially the Volkgemeinschaft of the German people
Dasein
Angst
Resoluteness (Beschlossenheit):
Care (Sorge):
Community (Volkgemeinschaft)
Community for Heidegger
 Technology is…

A uniquely human development.

1. Instrumental 2. Anthropological
Its purpose is to By definition,
get things something only
done! humans
accomplish
Technology Will Change Your
Life!
 Causality: We must understand an instrument in
terms of its essence, but also its causality – how
does it affect the individual and the community?
 Technology Will Change Your
Life!

Oil derek,
1936

We must understand the instrument in terms of its cause

 Technology will change your life!

We must understand the instrument in terms of its cause

The Question Concerning
Technology
 Who determines technology’s purpose?

Purpose = essence
 Aristotle’s Rhetorical Triangle

Speake
Which one
determines r
essence?
Creator?
User? Original
purpose?

Audience Message
 The Purpose of the Internet?

How does the Internet

affect information? (or
at least the way we
process information?)
Changing Existence’s Essence
 Adding technology can change shift the essence of
something that already exists.

What is the
essence of this
river?

NOW what is the

essence of this
river?
Bring out your gadgets!
 Poesis: (Greek) means to bring forth; bringing out
 The Greeks used this term to represent “being
responsible” or “causing action.”
 Greek poets were craftsmen
Technology is Poesis
 Heidegger, p. 294:

“Technology is a way of
bringing forth the realm
of truth.”
 Good or Evil?
 Technology is NOT inherently good. Technology
is only good for humans.

No intrinsic
value.

The value is
only for
humans.
 Technology Enframes the World
 Enframing: Human beings’ way of capturing – and
making sense of – the world around us

 As we learn more about nature and our world, we

develop technological systems to help us understand it
Enframing
Enframing
 Return the Gaze
 Heidegger wrote that technology “rearranges” the
way we see the world
 Technology acts like a mirror – in Heidegger’s
words, it “Returns the gaze.”

How does the Internet

affect information? (or
at least the way we
process information?)
The Big Question

 Does our environment shape us?

OR

 Do we shape our environment ?