TECHNOLOGY AS A WAY OF REVEALING

(Martin Heidegger was one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century. Technology
was an important element in his work. For Heidegger, technology was the key to understanding
our current time. Especially his text ‘The Question Concerning Technology’ (1954, English
Translation 1977), which has been very influential in philosophy of technology. Heidegger is
known for being a difficult philosopher to comprehend. We believe, however, that presenting
you with a bit of his own writing will still be valuable.)
Technology, according to Heidegger must be understood as “a way of revealing”. “Revealing” is
one of the terms Heidegger developed himself in order to make it possible to think what,
according to him, is not thought anymore. It is his translation of the Greek word alètheuein,
which means ‘to discover’ – (to uncover what was covered over). Related to this verb is the
independent noun alètheia, which is usually translated as “truth,” though Heidegger insists that
a more adequate translation would be “un-concealment.”
In Heidegger's words, whatever we experience, we must think about it, or engage with
"emerges out of concealment into unconcealed". Reality is 'revealed' in a certain way by
engaging into a specific relation with it. And here is where technology comes in, since
technology is the way of revealing that defines our era. Technology represents a certain
manner of revealing the world, in which people gain control over reality. Heidegger
demonstrates through analyzing of classical writings and words, modern technology is more of
a 'forcing into being.' The world is revealed as raw material, ready for manufacture and
manipulation, thanks to technology.
According to Heidegger, “Technology is not equivalent to the essence of technology. When we
are seeking the essence of “tree,” we have to become aware that that which pervades every
tree, as tree, is not itself a tree that can be encountered among all the other trees. Likewise, the
essence of technology is by no means anything technological. Thus, we shall never experience
our relationship to the essence of technology so long as we merely conceive and push forward
the technological, put up with it, or evade it. Everywhere we remain unfree and chained to
technology, whether we passionately affirm or deny it. But we are delivered over to it in the
worst possible way when we regard it as something neutral; for this conception of it, to which
today we particularly like to do homage, makes us utterly blind to the essence of technology.”
Technology “as a way of revealing”?
It is called reality. “Reality” is not something absolute that human beings can ever know once
and for all. It is relative in the most literal sense of the word and it exists only in relations. As a
result, human beings are unable to access reality "in itself." It ceases to be 'in itself' as soon as
we notice or attempt to comprehend it, and becomes reality for us. In contrast to what is just
imagined, reality is the sum or aggregate of all that is actual or existent within a system.