Technology: The Fire and the Knife
Marcelo Vieta discusses Heidegger’s work, The Question Concerning Technology, by using an excellent analogy involving fire. Technology, he says, is like a fire:
At a basic level, there’s an everpresent type of danger in fire because fire burns. Because of this, fire demands respect. But there’s more to the parent’s narrative. The parent also tells the child of the benefits of the fire and how the fire is made (brought to our presence). We must first bring it to be as a fire pit or a torch via various methods (techne?) available to us and known by the camper (”the firemaker”). The parent further describes the communal processes that take place in firemaking while camping; there are rituals to this bringing-forth of the flame on a camping trip. Once lit, the fire (borrowing Borgmann’s example and terminology) then becomes a focal thing that gathers us to it, warms us, allows us to break bread together, etc., revealing a world of togetherness in the wilderness. As the fire is subsequently nurtured, it is both indebted to us and our camping rituals are also indebted to it. When engaged with in this way, the burning risk of the fire is contained and its power is, instead, directed to the cooking, warming, or lighting. The fire is directed to us in a certain way that benefits us and us, in a way, it. But, if used unwisely, the fire can still burn us, the parent reminds the child, and also burn the forest and destroy all that camping is and can be. (Marcelo Vieta - Technology, Self, and Community)
I like that. Technology is a tool. It enables. Think of a sharp knife: it can be used to perform lifesaving surgery or to murder another human being. It’s up to each individual to decide how it will be used. The problem with technology is, we get so caught up in it that we forget it’s a tool. We cease to recognize how it can be used for peaceful and noble purposes. Once the ego identifies with technology, the software supporting our communication networks can so easily become instruments of selfish manipulation, fearful supression, and ignorant harm.
We cannot forget what technology is and what it can do for us. Might this be why the Dean campaign is now failing to produce votes?