On How Difficult it is to Philosophically Understand Technology

Abstract

Philosophy of technology has been in existence for more than half a century as an academic discipline, but authors do not agree on a common definition of technology, which appears to compromise the effort to philosophically understand it. This article examines the reasons for this difficulty and argues that it is due not only to the complexity of technology, but also to its omnipresence, frequent invisibility and ambivalence, as well as the diversity of intellectual position among philosophers. The paper also argues that more important than developing a common definition is the awareness that technology is a reality in which we are immersed without this meaning that we are incapable of studying it, and that reciprocally, what we can objectively affirm about it does not encompass its entire meaning in our lives. Finally, the paper highlights the challenge that artificial intelligence represents for the philosophy of technology.

Keywords

• filosofía de la tecnología
• omnipresencia de la tecnología
• ambivalencia de la tecnología
• tecnología e inteligencia humana
• tecnología y valores
• tecnología y poder
• tecnología y racionalidad