Kierkegaard and the Question Concerning Technology

Description

Over the last several decades, technology has emerged as an important area of interest for both philosophers and theologians. Yet, despite his status as one of modernity’s seminal thinkers, Søren Kierkegaard is not often seen as one who contributed to the field. Kierkegaard and the Question Concerning Technology argues otherwise. Christopher B. Barnett shows that many of Kierkegaard’s criticisms of "the present age" relate to the increasing dominance of technology in the West, and he puts Kierkegaard’s thought in conversation with subsequent thinkers who grappled with technological issues, from Martin Heidegger to Thomas Merton. Barnett shows that Kierkegaard’s writing, with its marked emphases on personal "upbuilding," stands as a place where deeper, non-technical modes of thinking are both commended and nurtured. In doing so, Barnett presents a Kierkegaard who remains relevant--perhaps all too relevant--in today’s digital age. Many thanks, Title Page Copyright Page Contents Preface Overview of the philosophy of technology Kierkegaard’s relation to the philosophy of technology The volume’s structure Acknowledgments Abbreviations for Kierkegaard’s Works Danish English References to Kierkegaard’s Works Chapter 1: A General History of Technology Modernity and the ascent of technology The growth of Western urbanization Technological innovation in the “Age of Great Cities” “The Gutenberg Galaxy” Conclusion Chapter 2: Technology in Golden Age Denmark Technological change in nineteenth-century Europe Denmark in “The Wonderful Century” Agricultural reform Technological development Conclusion Chapter 3: Kierkegaard on the Rise of Technological Culture References to technology in Kierkegaard’s authorship Kierkegaard on the form of modern life Kierkegaard on the content of modern life Conclusion Chapter 4: Kierkegaard’s Analysis of Information Technology Kierkegaard’s early critique of journalism The fruition of Kierkegaard’s press criticism Kierkegaard’s later use of the press: Journalist or Ironist? Conclusion Chapter 5: From Hegel to Google: Kierkegaard and the Perils of “the System” The rise of Google Johannes Climacus and the perils of the system A Kierkegaardian critique of Google Betragtning as therapy in the age of Google Conclusion Chapter 6: The Question Concerning Technology: Searching for Answers with Kierkegaard Kierkegaard’s relation to philosophical responses to technology Kierkegaard’s influence on theological responses to technology Concluding (Untechnological?) Postscript Notes Abbreviations Preface References to Kierkegaard’s Works Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Concluding (Untechnological?) Postscript Works Cited Works by Søren Kierkegaard Other sources Index