Ironic Technics by Don Ihde
Even before we humans became modern as homo sapiens we were busy inventing technologies. But our technologies also invent us as humans. And as we reflect upon this process, too often our interpretations have taken utopian or dystopian directions: our technologies will make life infinitely better and lead us into utopian realms, or our technologies will condemn us to alienation or even destroy our humanity itself. This set of essays, however, looks at the ironic dimensions of human-technology relations, at unpredicted, unexpected, surprizing outcomes. Are we today in a knowledge society? And, if so, are we wiser? Can we design intended uses into our technologies? Or, do they always surprise us with the unexpected? Can we technologize our very bodies? Become ever more Cyborgean? And have we or could we become posthuman? Here, drawing from a rich history of technologies, Ironic Technics takes a critical look at these contemporary, but also ancient questions.
DON IHDE is one of the founders of a distinctly North American approach to phenomenology in work that centers around technology. After completing his B.A. degree at the University of Kansas (1956), he earned a Master of Divinity degree at Andover Newton Theological School (1959) and a Ph.D. at Boston University (1964). His doctoral dissertation on the phenomenology of Paul Ricoeur set the stage for later original contributions to phenomenological analysis. Ihde taught at Southern Illinois University before moving to the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where, since 1969, he has served at different times as Head of Philosophy and Dean of Liberal Arts and Humanities. In the mid-1970s, together with his colleagues at Stony Brook, Ihde developed an intentionally eclectic school of experienced-based experimental phenomenology with bridges to pragmatism, which has concentrated on elaborating the ways that instrumentation mediates between human beings and the world. His book Technics and Praxis (1979) was the first real work on the philosophy of technology in English. In 1990 Ihde, together with Indiana University Press, initiated a new monograph series in philosophy of technology that has since become one of the most influential collection of publications in the field.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9788792130181 |
| ISBN 10 | 8792130186 |
| Title | Ironic Technics |
| Author | Don Ihde |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Automatic Press / VIP |
| Year published | 2008-09-30 |
| Number of pages | 72 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |