The problem of technique: homo faber, mysticism and decadence. Machinist culture in Oswald Spengler and Henri Bergson
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14422/pen.v75.i283.y2019.023Keywords:
Bergson, Spengler, technology, decline, homo faber, mysticAbstract
This article offers a compared analysis of the problema of technology in Oswald Spengler and Henri Bergson, authors of Man and technics and The two sources of morals and religión, respectively. In general, this paper is focused on the main topics of agreement and the main philosophical divergences between both. This is a threefold text. Section 1, shows the different anthropological visions held by these two authors, so related to the topic of technology since both are defenders of the definition of humans as homo faber. Secondly, I show the different historical interpretations of the problem of technics (origins and specificity of the Western phenomenon of technology). In the end, I reach to the historical context of these two books. Is technology a symbol of the decadence of modernity? At this point, the fatalist Spenglerian position is opposite to the Bergsonian one.Downloads
References
Aaron, R. (1956). «Note sur Bergson et l’histoire». Études bergsoniennes, IV, p. 41-51.
Bergson, H. (2008). Les deux sources de la morale et de la religion. Paris: (DS) PUF.
Bergson, H. (2009). L’évolution créatrice. Paris: PUF.
Bergson, H. (1972). Mélanges. Paris: PUF.
Farrenkopf, J. (2001). Prophet of Decline: Spengler on world history and politics. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press.
Jankélévich, V. (2008). Bergson. Paris: PUF.
Jankélévich, V. (1934). «L’homme et la technique (À propos d’un noveau libre d’Oswald Spengler)». Europe.
Jankélévich, V. (1933).«Les deux sources de la morale et de la religion d’après M. Bergson», Revue de métaphysique et de morale.
Keck, F. (2002). «Bergson et l’anthropologie, le problème de l’humanité dans “Les deux sources de la morale et de la religion”». Annales bergsoniennes, vol. I. PUF.
Plato (1902). Platonis Opera. Oxford: Oxford Classical Texts.
Séris, J.-P. (1994). La technique. Cap. IV. «Techniques et machines». Paris: PUF.
Ondřej Švec (2012). «La fragilité de la démocratie face au défi de la technique». Annales bergsoniennes. Vol V. Paris: PUF.
Soulez, P. (1989). Bergson politique. Paris: PUF.
Spengler, O. (1931). Der Mensch und die Technik. München: Beck’sche Verlagsbusch handlung.
Spengler, O. (1922). Der Untergang des Abendlandes. Band. II. München: Beck’sche Verlagsbusch handlung.
Zanfi, C. (2009). Bergson, la tecnica, la guerra. Bolonia: University Press.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
The publishing Universidad Pontificia Comillas retain the copyright of articles published in Pensamiento. Reuse of content is allowed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivates 3.0 Unported. Authors are encouraged to publish their work on the Internet (for example, on institutional or personal pages, repositories, etc.) respecting the conditions of this license and quoting appropriately the original source.
