The Art of Living in a Technological World: Bernard Stiegler's Perspective

2024

In our digital age, the impact of technology on our lives is undeniable. From the screens we interact with daily to the data streams we navigate, technology permeates our existence. Bernard Stiegler, a pioneering philosopher of our time, goes beyond the surface effects of digital tools. For Stiegler, technology isn't just about how devices impact our lives or how they're created and used—it's about something deeper: technics.

Technics, for Stiegler, is the essence of human experience. It's what distinguishes us from other species. Our existence is defined by the experiences and knowledge our tools enable, whether it's a cutting-edge brain-computer interface or a primitive axe used for clearing forests. However, technics isn't merely synonymous with technology. As Martin Heidegger noted, the 'essence of technology is by no means anything technological.' Instead, technics is an open-ended creative process, a relationship with our tools and the world.

Stiegler's journey to becoming a leading philosopher of the digital age was unconventional. Born in 1952, he experienced the political upheavals of 1968, which shaped his early worldview. Disenchanted with traditional Marxism and the political trends of the time, Stiegler sought new ways to understand the rapid rise of electronic technology. He realized that technology was redefining our relationship with ourselves, the world, and each other. To account for these changes, Stiegler believed philosophy needed to be rewritten from the perspective of technics.

His time in prison for armed robbery became a turning point. In his cell, Stiegler immersed himself in philosophy, exploring ideas that would shape his later work. He came to see technics as a fundamental aspect of human existence, tied to our ability to store and preserve knowledge through tools like books and archives.

Stiegler's concept of technics challenges us to rethink the role of technology in our lives. It urges us to consider how our tools shape our world and our understanding of it. While technology offers new possibilities, it also poses risks, from standardizing our experiences to increasing surveillance. Stiegler's work reminds us that our future is not predetermined by technology; rather, it is shaped by our choices in how we design and use our tools.

In a world increasingly dominated by digital technologies, Stiegler's philosophy offers a profound insight: our tools shape not only our world but also ourselves. It is through understanding this relationship with our tools that we can begin to imagine new ways of living, being, and evolving. Technics, not technology, holds the key to unlocking the future.

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