Borgmann’s Ideas On The Essence Of Technology: Device Paradigm

To explore the essence of technology is always the topic issue for technologyphilosophers. Technology enrich our life, at the same time, it also bring kinds of unpredictableproblems. In order to open the “black box” of technology, we should discuss the essence oftechnology to explore the true characters of technology; look for the proper way to balancetechnology and reality. Borgmann put forward “Device Paradigm” is the essence of moderntechnology. He is from another different angle study the contemporary world prospect.Attempt to let people realize the essence of technology, and guide people use technologyreasonably. The author analysis the source、contents and significance of the theory, and putforward practical significance of the theory.This paper is divided into five chapters. The chapter1, Discuss the formation ofBorgmann’s ideas on the essence of technology. This includes the practice foundation, therealistic basis, and the ideological roots. The practice foundation refers to the road thatBorgmann looking for in philosophy. The realistic basis mainly includes the complexity oftechnological society and the alienation phenomenon of technology. The ideological rootsmajor refer to the ideas of humanities philosophy of technology.The chapter2, parsing the main content and the character of the theory:“DeviceParadigm”. Analysis the connotation of its core concept “device”、“focal things” and “focalpractices”. Analyze technical question and technical characteristics.The chapter3, Discuss the rationality and transcendence of Borgmann’s “DeviceParadigm”. Compare with the thought of Jacques Ellul、Neil Postman and Carl Mitcham,those who study technology from the same angle, analyzing its obviousness and theoreticalrationality.The chapter4, mainly about the arguments and questions on Borgmann’s theory:“Device Paradigm”, this can help us to grasp the essence of Borgmann’s theory.The chapter5discusses the meaning of Borgmann’s theory, including the enlightenmentabout philosophy of technology and ponders over technology and the future.This paper analysis Borgmann’s ideas on the essence of technology, discussed therelation between technology and reality. Borgmann’s theory based on man-made artifacts,which let technical problem more specific. Borgmann’s contributions to technologyphilosophy is that he not only put forward “device paradigm” represents the feature of moderntechnology, but also promote the “focal things and practices” to better develop and guidetechnology. Borgmann’s theory provides open train of thought to solve the technical problems.