An Existential Critique on Heidegger’s Essay, “Question Concerning Technology”

This paper aims to expound on the essay of Martin Heidegger entitled, “Questions Concerning Technology.” That is, to bring light to the relevant ideas of Martin Heidegger with regards to technology and critique them in the light of the 21st century. We would weigh the relevance of Martin Heidegger’s insight pertaining to technology in our modern age.         This weighing of relevance on the insight of Martin Heidegger would be viewed under the perspective of existentialism. Heidegger had been associated as an existentialist, albeit denying this himself, it is still fitting that we should critique his work under this perspective. This is to be done in an expository manner. The paper would be divided into three sections. First a short background on Martin Heidegger, second an extensive summary on the essay “Questions Concerning Technology,” and the third section is the critique proper.         To understand technology is to get a glimpse of the Dasein, and this glimpse will be to our benefit in order to understand the Dasein. To understand the Dasein is Heidegger’s primary work. The Dasein is man, thus man is the key player in this aforesaid essay of Martin Heidegger. For there would not be an uncovering of technology, if there is no man. And technology for Heidegger is not only merely utilizing techné to achieve the maximum output with the least effort, but it goes beyond that. The mode of thinking of man that underlies technology is what matters. It is the not the outcome of technology that concerns Heidegger, but the way we conceptualize technology do. That is why existentialism is imbedded even in the philosophy of technology of Heidegger.        KEYWORDS: Heidegger, Technology, Existentialism