The Phenomenological Roots of Technological Intentionality: A Postphenomenological Perspective

Abstract

Interest concerning the problem of technological activity has grown in philosophical discussions during recent decades. The crux of the matter is whether technological objects are mere means for achieving human goals or possess some sort of inherent active quality of their own that influences our behavior, perception, goals, and ethical beliefs. In this article, I aim to show that technology exhibits a specific quality of engagement that can be more clearly understood through the notion of technological intentionality. The term “technological intentionality” was first coined by the postphenomenological school of thought. However, it continues to beg for a more comprehensive and profound elucidation. In my investigation, I introduce the notion of technological intentionality from two major perspectives. The first perspective is deeply intertwined with Husserl’s notion of intentionality. Intentionality, in this context, represents an act through which a connection (or unity) between humans and the world can be reached. In my examination of the second perspective, I unpack the notion of technological intentionality and offer a conceptual description of its structure. Here I argue that technological intentionality is a specific sort of active relationship that appears between human consciousness and the world each time a technological object is in use. Technological objects here are not just passive instruments, but they also actively connect us with the environment in which we live.

Keywords

phenomenology / philosophy of technology / intentionality / meaning / postphenomenology / technological intentionality

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