A philosophical inquiry into technology illuminates our innermost nature, says Sundar Sarukkai

We are born in a world of machines and are increasingly dependent on them for our everyday actions. This is particularly true of digital technologies such as the internet and the smartphone. Given that we are already immersed in this technology, how can we think about it in any meaningful manner? One could respond by noting that there is really nothing to think about since these machines are primarily produced for a purpose. But this is precisely the point about philosophy as it repeatedly alerts us to the need to think more deeply about what we take for granted. Our response to technology might be similar to that about our world.

Why think about what we are already so familiar with? But as we have seen so far in this series, what we take for granted often hides complex layers behind it. Unlike nature which is already ‘given’ to us, technology is produced by human interests. There is nothing natural about technology. Nor can it be defined only by its use and function. The production of technology serves specific human purposes and human desires. So a philosophical inquiry into technology is important for it illuminates our innermost nature. A philosophy of technology...

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