The idea behind this essay, that Heidegger proposes to us is to prepare a free relationships towards technology. As Heidegger mentions, such relationship should be free as long as we, hu-man existence, are able to truly understand the essence of technology. His questioning of tech-nology builds up throughout the essay. Then, he finally gets to the four important causes – the matter out of which, something is made. He says that they differ from one another, yet they be-long together. There are four ways of being responsible and he calls it bringing-forth.
As the essay continues it seems like Heidegger is not only questioning the free relationship towards technology, but essentially he is looking for the truth. This truth is very tightly connected with technology because as Heidegger believes, technology is a means of revealing the truth. Heidegger also says that modern technology is too a revealing. But it is not a revealing in the sense of poiesis (the poetic kind of revealing done by the artist or craftsman). Instead “the revealing that rules in modern technology is a challenge, which puts to nature the unreasonable demand that it supply energy which can be extracted and stored as such.” He also points out that modern technology differs from older technology in that it transforms our orientation to the world. With that being said, Heidegger starts to really focus more on the modern technology. He talks about how modern technology can change and affect a cultural symbol as he gives as he draws on the Rhine River. The hydroelectric dam changes the meaning of the river; it is mere energy source. The windmill doesn’t do that (old technology).
In addition, in “challenging” modern technology unlocks and exposes nature and always drives toward the maximum yield at the minimum expense.
Another point that I found interesting from Heidegger’s essay is when he talks about the notion of standing-reserve. He says: “Modern technology places humans in standing-reserve.” To explain this, he uses an example of forester and his relationship with the paper and print industries, as he waits in standing reserve for their wishes. It is an interesting relationship that put humans in a position, where they are not only dependent on nature, but at the same time on the technology. Furthermore, the old technology, has always been fully controlled by humans. How-ever, our modern technology is taking over these jobs and pushing us (humans) even further from nature. In my opinion, this is also one of the reasons why has our relationship with nature been declining. In fact, we are becoming more and more separated from nature.
Finally, Heidegger concludes the question of technology is one concerning the constella-tion in which revealing and concealing, in which the coming to presence of the truth comes to pass. Here he ties his essay back to the beginning as he believes that it is all about finding the truth. In the end, he suggests art to be a possible way to navigate this constellation, because art-ists, or poets, view the world as it is and as it reveals itself.
Question: He talks a lot about “revealing of truth”, but what truth is he really talking about?
Word Count: 543
Environmental Ethics 