Norbea May L.

Rodriguez
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
GE 1212 | 16-285 TTh

At first, I cannot think of any connection between Heidegger’s Question Concerning Technology
and The Good Life of Aristotle. The two of them shared a deep understanding of life and people. And as
an ordinary student, it is hard to understand them, especially when you do not have enough sources of
their works. Nevertheless, I have further discovered that Aristotle believed that if a person has intellectual
virtues and character virtues, he has achieved the highest good, eudaimonia, which translates to
happiness. And technology, if we will be going to define it, means applying scientific knowledge for practical
purposes, especially in industry. Yet, Heidegger claimed that technology is the ultimate danger to our
existence.
There are two kinds of knowledge, according to Aristotle. The knowledge of the first principle and
the knowledge that comes from the inference of demonstration. He believed that a person who does not
only contemplate and learn or reason out but also acts rightly and develops the appropriate state of
character from which to perform those right actions acquires the highest good, happiness. In short,
intellectual virtues—obtained as a result of learning—combined with the character virtues—acquired as
the result of habituation and life experience—is equals to happiness. As a matter of fact, there are five
intellectual virtues that Aristotle is referring to science, intuition, philosophy, art, and wisdom.
“Science allows you to draw conclusions in a logical, demonstrable fashion, from known facts and
principles. Intuition gives you the first principles and allows you to bootstrap the process of science. Philosophy
answers the big questions, such as what, where, why, when, and how. Art gives you the ability to create things
that would not exist but for the artist’s skill. Wisdom enables you to choose the appropriate means for the
ultimate end (eudaimonia) at which life points.”
Thus, technology is the manifestation of these intellectual virtues of Aristotle.
Additionally, I am afraid I do not agree with one of the claims of Heidegger: technology is the actual
highest danger. The ultimate threat to our existence. Personally, the actual highest danger to our existence
is without these character virtues, which Aristotle mentioned. I believe the people can still achieve the
highest good, eudaimonia, or happiness even living with technology today. Wars between nations happen
because some people do not practice these character virtues. There would be no pandemic in the first
place if people applied these virtues. These virtues surpass every negativity of this world, understand
people, serve nations, and therefore the root of peace.
In conclusion, I learned that there are five intellectual virtues, and their manifestation is technology.
Heidegger claimed that technology is the highest danger, which I disagree with because our greatest
enemy is ourselves. Thus, a life with technology and character virtues is a good life.
REFERENCES

Aristotle on the Intellectual Virtues. https://sniggle.net/TPL/index5.php?entry=06Nov09

Kemple, B., (n.d). Techne, Physis, and Technology: Aristotle and Heidegger.

Philosophy of technology. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_technology

Technology - Things and Stuff Wiki. https://wiki.thingsandstuff.org/Technology

The Good Life by Aristotle: Reason and Meaning.

https://reasonandmeaning.com/2013/12/19/aristotle-on-the-good-and-meaningful-life/

What is technology according to Aristotle?. https://askinglot.com/what-is-technology-

according-to-aristotle