The Logic Of Altering Modernity-Study On Feenberg’s Critical Theory Of Technology

Feenberg is a representative philosoper of the new generation of the Frankfurt School. His Critical Theory of Technology is a huge system, which contains the sublation of the Critical Theory of the Frankfurt School, as well as criticism on other philosophy theory of technology in foundation of it. Since the 21 st century, his philosophy theory of technology has attracted comprehensive attention of Chinese philosophy of technology sector.Feinberg says that Instrument Theory regards values in technological as neutral,and he believes that would lead to indiscriminate acception of technology,which is necessary to criticize.On the other hand, criticism made by Heidegger and other philosophers of technology entity theory can lead to Dystopia——going back to the society without modern technologies. Thus, Feenberg find necessity of his Critical Theory of Technology.Feenberg comes up with the concept of technical code and instrumentalization by putting the newest research achievements of social constructivism into his Critical Theory of Technology.In this way, he diagnoses the sources that cause the problem of prevenient technoloty theory and finds out a theoritical support for altering current technical dilemma. After revealing the sociocultural nature of technology, Feenberg points out that technologies include of value appeal of various social groups and rises the thought of technological democratization, willing to express interest demands of classes and social groups in weak position by enlarging the range of technology design, so as to reverse the very nature of technology which use to be governing tool and replace it. With the illustrating of this theory, Feenberg points out the dialectical relation between social context and technology, also expresses his new understanding of transition to socialism and confidence on multiculturalism.This paper puts each part of Feenberg’s Critical Theory of Technology from the perspective of choosing mordenity, in order to understand its logic and contents more clearly and more comprehensively. Feenberg’s technology theory is an overall theory,which integrates good qualities of others’, the thoughts of technological democratization and multiculturalism within are also helpful for the practice of building socialism with Chinese characters. Thus, it is necessary to lucubrate his technology theory.But at the end of this paper, the author comes up with queries about especially his opions on technological democratization and transition to socialism and considers that it would be more helpful for the practice of building socialism with Chinese characters if we give it the connotations that keep pace with the times by assimilating the fruits of China’s modernify practice.Key Words: Feenberg;Critical Theory of Technology;alteringmodernity;...