Research Nathan Van Camp

Abstract

Recently, a large number of studies have been devoted to the influence of Martin Heidegger's thought on his Jewish students, given his brief allegiance to national-socialism. Most of these studies however seem to neglect the importance of a phenomenon that he himself has pointed out as being an important ground on which he based his decision to support this political movement, i.e. the emergence of modern technics. This research will therefore try to establish that the philosophical writings of some of the most prominent of these students -Hannah Arendt, Günther Anders, Herbert Marcuse, and Hans Jonas- should be understood as a critical interpretation and re-appropriation of Heidegger's early writings on the division between technique and technology.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Liska Vivian
• Co-promoter: Cools Arthur
• Fellow: Van Camp Nathan

Research team(s)

• Institute of Jewish Studies

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Recently, a large number of studies have been devoted to the influence of Martin Heidegger's thought on his Jewish students, given his brief allegiance to national-socialism. Most of these studies however seem to neglect the importance of a phenomenon that he himself has pointed out as being an important ground on which he based his decision to support this political movement, i.e. the emergence of modern technics. This research will therefore try to establish that the philosophical writings of some of the most prominent of these students -Hannah Arendt, Günther Anders, Herbert Marcuse, and Hans Jonas- should be understood as a critical interpretation and re-appropriation of Heidegger's early writings on the division between technique and technology.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Liska Vivian
• Fellow: Van Camp Nathan

Research team(s)

• Institute of Jewish Studies

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Technology is omnipresent in our society, not only through the quantitative dissemination of devices and machines, but also and mainly through the qualitative change our way of thinking and acting is subject to. Although this technicisation of society is mainly a modern phenomenon, we can find both in Plato and Aristotle many references to techné. Through the neoplatonic and neoaristotelian tradition, and mainly through Heidegger's revisiting of this theme, the conceptual framework of this Greek view on techné continues to influence contemporary philosophy of technology. This dualist heritage makes that modern and contemporary interpretations often view technology as a phenomenon which is external to man and culture. This research project intends to to develop an alternative view on technology through Jewish thought which could prove especially fruitful to think the developments in contemporary technology.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Liska Vivian
• Fellow: Van Camp Nathan

Research team(s)

• Institute of Jewish Studies

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Liska Vivian
• Fellow: Van Camp Nathan

Research team(s)

• Institute of Jewish Studies

Project type(s)

• Research Project