Function and Meaning: The Double Aspects of Technology

Authors

  • Andrew Feenberg School of Communication, Simon Fraser University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34629/ipl.isel.i-ETC.2

Keywords:

Philosophy of Technology, Function, Meaning, Marx, Lukács, Heidegger, Marcuse, Simpson, Borgmann

Abstract

This paper traces the theoretical background to the split between function and meaning in the modernity theories of Marx, Lukács, Weber and Marcuse. It then discusses attempts to overcome the split in the recent philosophies of technology of Simpson and Borgmann. These attempts fail but help to focus the issue. A discussion of contemporary struggles over information technology offers a more hopeful perspective on a possible resolution of the split and suggests a new look at Heidegger’s phenomenology of action. The conclusion of the paper shows that Heidegger offers resources for addressing the relation of function and meaning which he himself did not develop.

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Published

2012-01-27

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2012): Special Inauguration Issue

Section

Articles

License

Authors of articles published in the ISEL Academic Journal of Electronics, Telecommunications and Computers retain copyright of their work, without restriction, licensing it under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 Unported License. This license allows free download of the articles from the i-ETC website, as well as re-use and re-distribution without restriction, as long as the original work is properly cited and not used for commercial purposes.