Introduction

Summary

The essays collected here do not constitute a philosophy of technology, in the sense which, for instance, Don Ihde requires. According to Ihde the philosopher of technology must reflectively analyse technology in such a way ‘as to illuminate features of the phenomenon of technology itself’. The contributors to this volume do not concern themselves with the essentialist enterprise of defining technology; they more or less take it for granted that the reader is familiar with a variety of technologies such as Information Technology, and proceed from there. Hence the title is the conjunctive one of Philosophy and Technology.

That contemporary philosophy has become more self-consciously concerned with the impact of technology on human nature and society is undeniably. Witness for instance the philosophical growth areas of Environmental and Medical Ethics. This interest is surely in part a consequence of environmental disasters such as the Chernobyl nuclear accident, and advances in medical technology such as organ transplantation. Again, advances in computer science and technology have suggested new ways for self-understanding and the re-organisation of society.

The modern world contains a vast array of technologies, and the contributors to this book respond to some of them with different concerns, so there is no one underlying theme running throughout. Nevertheless, one may discern that, in general, the contributors adopt one of two approaches. The first is concerned, quite generally, with the impact of technology on culture and society, and the second is concerned with philosophical questions raised by particular technologies.