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Техне и модерният мит
Techne and the Modem Myth

Author(s): Damyan Damyanov
Subject(s): Philosophy
Published by: Институт по философия и социология при БАН

Summary/Abstract: According to Herbert Marcuse one-dimensional thinking in modern society is connected with technological rationality. In this paper I define the essence of techne, and argue that the most important characteristic of technological rationality, emerging out of this essence, is the „earthly“ purposefulness opposed to the „heavenly“ purposefulness of non-technological rationality, which, in Marcuse’s terms, is two-dimensional. The rationality of a given society and its purposefulness is defined by its myths. Medieval society, which precedes the modern one, is dominated by Christian myth, which defines „heavenly“ purposefulness. The myth which dominates the modernity is narrated originally by Francis Bacon, and defines „earthly“ purposefulness. By using Claud Levy-Strauss’ method of structural analysis of myths, and his transformation formulas, I disclose similarities, dependencies and transformations between both myths, Christian and Baconian, which ensure the turn from „heavenly“ to „earthly“ purposefulness, and emerging of the one-dimensional technological rationality.

  • Issue Year: XIV/2005
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 53-59
  • Page Count: 7
  • Language: Bulgarian