Exercise 3: Reaction Paper

Name: BAYLON, Jarren Michael S. Date Submitted: 1 / 09 / 2019

Course/Section: ECE – 1 / B13

Jason Hickel’s framework of de-development and Martin Heidegger’s The Question Concerning
Technology.

Hickel’s framework and Heidegger’s Question Concerning Technology have their similarities
as well as their differences. They are similar in a way that they discuss the improvement in society,
specifically in a technology view. Hickel’s framework mentions how the community or the society
continues to grow, and how this growth is turning into damage. Technology is also part of this growth he
talks about, and how we are hoping and expecting growth to be the answer to eradicate poverty and
help poor countries catch up to rich countries. This framework intends to help people see how we can
change the world in a different point of view. Comparing it to Heidegger’s Question Concerning
Technology, Heidegger contributes to society by telling them the true essence of technology, as people
often take it in a wrong way. He mentions that technology has a lot of definitions, but highlights or
explains the two widely embraced definitions, which is the instrumental and anthropological. The
instrumental definition means that technology is a means to an end. He elaborates it stating that
technology is an instrument aimed at getting things done. While the anthropological definition defines
technology as the production or invention of technological equipment, tools and machines, the products
and inventions, and the purpose and functions they serve are what define technology. He also
envisioned technology as a way of revealing. They are both similar in a way that they are trying to help
or bring people to another level, a higher level, of understanding and consciousness. Their only
differences are the topics or subjects they are fighting for or arguing about. Hickel stresses on how the
world should change not only by improving the poor countries, but by limiting or reducing the
consumption of the richer countries. Heidegger stresses on the subject of technology, on how people
understand technology in a wrong way. These articles help change the world and help people
understand subjects clearer and in a different point of view.