ETH202 Heidegger's Questioning and the Concept of the Good Life

Heidegger -2

Science Technology & Society (PATTS College of Aeronautics)

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Heidegger -2

Science Technology & Society (PATTS College of Aeronautics)

Scan to open on Studocu

Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university

Questioning as the Piety of Thought

Heidegger concluded his treatise on technology as follows: The closer we come to the danger, the more brightly do the ways into the saving power begin to shine and the more questioning we become. For questioning is the piety of thought (1977, p. 19). Heidegger underscored the importance of questioning in the midst of technology. For him, there is unparalleled wisdom gained only when man is able to pause, think, and question. Humans are swallowed by technology when they are caught up in the enframing of technology and fail to pay attention to the intricacies of technology, the brilliance of their purpose, and the genius of individuals that put them forth. Questioning is the piety of thought. It is only through questioning that we are able to reassess our position not only in the midst of technology around us, but also and importantly in the grand scheme of things. Heidegger posited that it is through questioning that we bear witness to the crises that a complete preoccupation with technology brings, preventing us from experiencing the essence of technology, and that a complete aestheticmindedness prohibits us from guarding and preserving the essence of art. Thus, we need to take a step back and reassess who we were, who we are, and who are we becoming in the midst of technology.

UNIT 2. HUMAN FLOURISHING IN PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT This unit presents Jason Hickel’s development framework described as ‘dedeveloping’ rich countries. As a departure from traditional frameworks of growth and development, Hickel’s ‘de-developing’ framework is discussed as an alternative to narrowing the gap between rich and poor countries. Thus, taking off from this alternative framework, the unit critiques human

Thoughts to Ponder

Despite efforts to close out the gap between poor and rich countries, a 2015 BBC report stated that the growth gap keeps widening. Although there is no standard measure of inequality, the report claimed that most indicators suggest that the widening of the growth gap slowed or fell during the financial crisis and is now growing again. Continued sharpening of inequality appears paradoxical having in mind the efforts that had been poured in on development efforts to assist poor countries to rise from absent to slow progress. At this backdrop, we could not help but ask ourselves whether we are indeed progressing. In the context of unprecedented scientific and technological advancement and economic development, we ask ourselves whether we, humans, either as individuals or as a collective, are indeed flourishing. If development efforts to close out the gap between the rich and poor countries have failed, can we possibly confront the challenges of development through a nonconformist framework? In the succeeding article, Jason Hickel, an anthropologist at the London School of Economics, criticize the failure of growth and development efforts dating back to seven decades ago to eradicate poverty and offers a nonconformist perspective toward growth and development.

Forget 'developing' poor countries, it's time to 'de-develop' rich countries

by Jason Hickel This week, heads of state are gathering in New York to sign the UN’s new sustainable development goals (SDGs). The main objective is to eradicate poverty by 2030. Beyoncé, One Direction and Malala are on board. It’s set to be a monumental international celebration. Given all the fanfare, one might think the SDGs are about to offer a fresh plan for how to save the world, but beneath all the hype, it’s business as usual. The main strategy for eradicating poverty is the same: growth.