In the

philosophy of technology The philosophy of technology is a sub-field of philosophy that studies the nature of technology and its social effects. Philosophical discussion of questions relating to technology (or its Greek ancestor ''techne'') dates back to the very dawn of ...

, the device paradigm is the way "

technological Technology is the application of knowledge to reach practical goals in a specifiable and reproducible way. The word ''technology'' may also mean the product of such an endeavor. The use of technology is widely prevalent in medicine, science, ...

devices" are perceived and consumed in modern society, according to

Albert Borgmann Albert Borgmann (born 1937) is a German-born American philosopher This is a list of American philosophers; of philosophers who are either from, or spent many productive years of their lives in the United States. {, border="0" style="margin:aut ...

. It explains the intimate relationship between people, things and technological devices, defining most economic relations and also shapes

social Social organisms, including human(s), live collectively in interacting populations. This interaction is considered social whether they are aware of it or not, and whether the exchange is voluntary or not. Etymology The word "social" derives from ...

and moral relations in general. The concept of the device paradigm is a critical response to the

Heidegger Martin Heidegger (; ; 26 September 188926 May 1976) was a German philosopher who is best known for contributions to phenomenology, hermeneutics, and existentialism. He is among the most important and influential philosophers of the 20th centur ...

's notion of ''

Gestell ''Gestell'' (or sometimes ''Ge-stell'') is a German word used by twentieth-century German philosopher Martin Heidegger to describe what lies behind or beneath modern technology. Heidegger introduced the term in 1954 in ''The Question Concerning Te ...

''. It has been widely endorsed by philosophers of technology, including

Hubert Dreyfus Hubert Lederer Dreyfus (; October 15, 1929 – April 22, 2017) was an American philosopher and professor of philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley. His main interests included phenomenology, existentialism and the philosophy of bo ...

Andrew Feenberg Andrew Feenberg (born 1943) is an American philosopher. He holds the Canada Research Chair in the Philosophy of Technology in the School of Communication at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. His main interests are philosophy of technology, c ...

, and Eric Higgs, as well as environmental philosopher David Strong.

Devices

For Borgmann, a device is a thing that is used as a means to an end. Therefore, a device is seen as "the compound of commodity and machinery" while "the distinctive pattern of division and connection of its components is the device paradigm." This term is meant to signify or distinguish between technological devices and "focal things and practices," which matter to people in their everyday affairs.Borgmann (1984), p196. A focal thing is something of ultimate concern and significance, which may be masked by the device paradigm, and must be preserved by its intimate connection with practice. Borgmann used the case of

wine Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are m ...

to explain this. He cited that the focal thing in

winemaking Winemaking or vinification is the production of wine, starting with the selection of the fruit, its fermentation into alcohol, and the bottling of the finished liquid. The history of wine-making stretches over millennia. The science of wine and ...

involves the implements used to produce wine. Wine becomes a device when it employs technology and machinery not merely to produce wine but obtain specific qualities such as grapey, smooth, light, and fruity flavors or clean and clear appearance. As technological devices increase the availability of a commodity or service, they also push these devices into the background where people do not pay attention to their destructive tendencies.Borgmann (1984), p41. For example, the technology of central heating means that warmth is readily available and family members can retreat into the solitude of their rooms instead of working to chop wood or stoke the fires. Social interaction is reduced and the family struggles to find activities that enable such nurturing and care for each other. The ubiquitous nature of information technology also makes it an important example of device paradigm.Borgmann (1984), p207.

Notes

External links

University of Montana Information Page for Albert Borgmann

* Review of ''Technology and the Character of Contemporary Life'' in NetFuture

Techné: Journal of the Society for Philosophy and Technology, Vol 6 No 1
Special issue devoted to Borgmann's Holding onto Reality, Fall 2002.
The Device Paradigm
Class notes by Phil Rogaway, Spring 2004.

Pieter Tijmes, Society for Philosophy and Technology, Vol 3 No 1, Fall 1997.

by

{{DEFAULTSORT:Device Paradigm Technology in society Concepts in social philosophy Philosophy of technology

Devices

See also

Notes

External links