St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology (Jul 2024)
A Jewish Theological Perspective on Technology (Orthodox)
Abstract
This encyclopaedia entry explores the Jewish theological perspective on technology, highlighting its fundamental role in improving the human condition and completing creation. It begins by tracing the historical development of Jewish theological approaches to technology, starting with a look at a number of fundamental biblical narratives, proceeding to the relevant Talmudic and Midrashic literature on the subject, and culminating with readings in medieval, modern, and contemporary Rabbinic writings. This review of historical approaches to technology leads to the conclusion that while the human technological endeavour is part and parcel of reaching the goal of creation, it must be guided by divine purpose and ethics. This message is then shown to be reified in the practical demands set forth by Jewish Law – i.e. Halakhah. Bringing prominent examples that demonstrate how Halakhah seeks to regulate new technologies, the entry explores the Halakhic discourse with technology. The entry concludes with a section entitled ‘Eschatology and Ethics’, which discusses how technology must be guided by ethical considerations to bring about the eschatological era as well as to serve humanity in that ultimate era.
