The concept of nature II
Description
This is also the sixth meeting of the annual theme "Philosophy, Technology and Philosophy".
The theme "Philosophy, Technology and Philosophy" will be presented by special professors of the Thomas More Foundation at various public Dutch Universities. For further information, e-mail a.j.lutz@hccnet.nl. On the part of the Thomas More Foundation, the programme will be coordinated by Drs S.J.M. Waanders. Website: http://www.radboudstichting.nl/
The concept of 'nature' in technology, philosophy and religion II: From modern thinking to postmodern thinking: beyond man?
Now that the body cannot be seen separately from the mind and man cannot be seen separately from the technical mastery of nature, the question of man and his relationship to technology arises sharply.
(1) Some see technology as a neutral tool: it is only a matter of how you use it. (2) Others feel that we are so controlled and dominated by technology that we are completely defined by it. (3) Still others - transhumanists - go so far as to force us to think beyond humans. For, they say, with the "cyborg" or the new synthesis of man and technology, traditional visions of man and ethics fall short.
The(1) instrumental vision is explained by Plato's myth of Prometheus. The (2) view that technology determines us is illustrated with a text by Heidegger. And (3) for what questions the new technology poses us, we find it in the work of Peter Sloterdijk. Instead of taming humanism, he sees us in the "human park" faced with the question of which human being do we want to cultivate: which improvement do we choose?
Indeed, NBIC technology, that is nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology and cognitive or brain science presents us with the question, are we capable of improving human beings and in what direction. Is the answer to these questions to be found beyond humanism, as Nietzsche, Heidegger and Sloterdijk think? Or is the answer to be sought in "human dignity" (including natural, animal and plant dignity). Human dignity with an eye for man's enduring limitations and vulnerability, rather than the dream of perfection, which can sometimes produce monsters
Speaker(s)
Prof G.H.T. (Bert) Blans was born in Amsterdam in 1947. Studied theology and philosophy at Eindhoven and Nijmegen. Then philosophy at Leuven, where he obtained his PhD in 1975. From 1973 until today, he taught philosophy at the former Katholieke Theologische Hogeschool/University in Utrecht, now the Faculty of Catholic Theology in Tilburg and Utrecht. Since 1990, on behalf of the Thomas More Foundation, formerly Radboud Foundation, he has worked as an extraordinary professor at Wageningen University. His teaching mainly concerns history of philosophy, philosophy of religion and ethics. His current research concerns the impact of Augustine on contemporary philosophers. In addition, because of his appointment at Wageningen, he researches our dealings with nature and the environment, which was also the subject of his inaugural address there
Location
Utrecht
Organiser
Philosophy & Technology
Name and contact details for information
Further information from drs.ing. Henk Uijttenhout (vz), tel: 070 - 3875293 / 06 - 42505844 or via the e-mail address below