Non-classical character of philosophy of technology (exemplified by the “The Perfection of Technique” by Friedrich Jünger)

Abstract

Definition of the type of rationality of philosophy of technology in relation to a periodization “classical-nonclassical – postnonclassical” is considered. As an example work “The perfection of technique” by Friedrich Georg Jünger is taken. It contains the philosophical analysis of consequences of technical progress – social and cultural, ecological and anthropological. Feature of the given work that it, despite publication time, contains the predictions that came true concerning negative consequences of technologisation the nature and society. Denying positive results of technical progress, the philosopher called in question even such its advantages as simplification of human work or increase of a standard of living. It is possible to track at Friedrich Jünger origin of the expanded treatment of the technique seeing in it universal social-cultural code of work of the person with an environment. Friedrich Jünger has shown ecological and anthropological problems of technogenic civilisation. The technique is a rationalisation of labour processes. It maintains not only the nature: The person becomes raw materials. The person who has seized technique, turns to its servant and is compelled to submit to its laws. Poverty, confirms Friedrich Jünger, will remain at all forms of the device of economy as it is inevitably generated by rationalism of technical thinking. Not errors of separate people lead the civilization to catastrophe, but the principle underlying technical progress. The conclusion is that given works concern nonclassical philosophical rationality. The same type, proceeding from criteria of nonclassical philosophy, is inherent also in philosophy of technology as a whole. It is shown that base philosophical concepts of philosophy of technology laying in the basis, are the following: refusal of naturalistic installation and the thesis about modeling of the world by the subject; refusal of attempts of construction of uniform rational model of the world and of rationalization of technical activity of the person; understanding of interosculation of the subject and object; understanding of technology as uncontrollable elements, instead of obedient tool; introduction in frameworks of research of socio-historical aspects of the investigated phenomenon. It shows that the philosophy of technology could appear only after the statement in philosophy of these principles, that is after transition to a nonclassical step of its development. Having arisen simultaneously with philosophical researches of language and mentality, the philosophy of technique ascertained, that all these displays of essence of the person do not depend directly on its will, submit to own laws and demand from the person of studying and even the adaptation. Considered work by Friedrich Jünger serves here as a vivid example. Inevitable transformations of philosophy of technology at transition to a postnonclassical stage of its development deserve the further research on a wide background of the general condition of modern philosophy.