If years from now anyone were to compose an intellectual account of the 20th century, a section must be left to incorporate the predictive foresight of Martin Heidegger. Heidegger is among the first academicians to tackle the risks of contemporary technology. For most philosophers and historians, Heidegger’s works form the basis of their research. In this case, Richard Rojcewicz analyzes one of his books concerning human nature and technology. Rojcewicz in the article “The Gods and Technology,” offers an intuitive reading about “The Question Concerning Technology” (“Die Frage Nach der Technik”), which is Heidegger’s most prominent book. Rojcewicz scrutinizes this informative piece of work thereby providing new insights to the reader. He reopens the topic concerning man and technology and uses Martin Heidegger’s convictions about modern technology to educate people about protecting the future generation.
From the book’s title, one can deduce that Rojcewicz attempted to show the relationship between humanity and their ability to heed the gods was indirectly proportional to technology use. In other words, with an increase in the use of modern technology, there is a resultant decrease in the ability to pay attention to the sense of holy. As a result, Rojcewicz questions whether there is a piece of human existence that remains hidden humanity that drives their increasing dependence on technology. Furthermore, he inquires whether there is an innate feeling that pits the desire of human beings to constantly utilize modern technology against the need to protect the environment. Thus, by addressing the effects of technological transformation, Heidegger informs his audience about the uncertainties of the future.
Rojcewicz’s analysis finds that there are two essential aspects of man. From his point of view, Heidegger not only tackles the use of modern technology but also compares it with a complete alteration of man’s association with nature. According to Rojcewicz, the people’s view of the world is that it is a resource and that this is what shapes their nature, especially individuals from Western countries (p. 71). Western nations do not know to what extent they need to when it comes to inventing new technologies and their impact on the World as a whole. Heidegger’s main aim is to direct human beings to follow a path that seeks answers to understand this subject.
The rise of technology surfaces through a calamity that drives the Western civilization’s fate into uncertainty. Man goes through this disaster as an immense abandonment, in which they become entangled in a continuous consumption, production, exploitation, and manipulation cycle (Rojcewicz 101). In addition to this cycle, man continues to lose a significant chance of confronting and sensing what is the sacred. In today’s world, man utilizes the earth’s resources without considering the adverse resultant effects. As people continue to depend on technology, some of the earth’s resources continue to decrease. Consequently, that means that some of the earth’s essential resources would not be available in the future.
“The Gods and Technology” is an authentic and conscientious reading of the thoughts of Martin Heidegger concerning technology in his book “The Question Concerning Technology.” Heidegger’s narrative is resourceful, and Rojcewicz utilizes it as a source of vital data concerning the nature of man and his relationship with the environment. Rojcewicz simplifies this essay so that the audience can easily understand the cause of misusing resources. One of the factors the research mentions is the extent to which man is willing to go to increase the use of technology. Heidegger attempts to explain that people should consider their actions and their impact on the environment before performing such tasks.
Works Cited
Rojcewicz, Richard. The Gods and Technology: A Reading of Heidegger. SUNY P, 2006.