Postphenomenology and Technoscience: The Peking University Lectures

by Don Ihde

Maps the future of phenomenological thought, accounting for how technology expands our means of experiencing the world.

A revised form of phenomenology, postphenomenology aims to overcome the limitations of subjectivism and its largely dystopian stance toward science and technology. Timely and insightful, this book provides a useful introduction to postphenomenology, asking how it can effectively transform classical phenomenology into a new and concrete reflection upon technoscience. Tracing the modern history of phenomenology, pragmatism, and philosophy of science, Don Ihde proposes a reframing of phenomenology to better suit today’s contemporary world. An excellent overview of the recent history of the philosophy of science, Postphenomenology and Technoscience revitalizes conceptual frameworks that still have much to offer.

“…Ihde’s way of thinking first and foremost opens intellectual doors to others.” — Human Studies

“...a thought-provoking contribution to the history of twentieth-century philosophy of science and technology. Amidst all the wealth of new ideas the ‘practical turn’ has brought to contemporary science and technology studies in terms of reflections on scientific and technological practice, one is reminded here of theoretical offerings that go back to early twentieth-century pragmatic and phenomenological traditions still worth considering. Ihde’s lectures testify to this historical turn.” — Metascience

“… high marks. It is one of Ihde’s best. This should create an even broader audience for his work.” — Larry Hickman, author of Pragmatism as Lessons from John Dewey

Genres: Philosophy, Technology

102 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Don Ihde is an American philosopher of science and technology. In 1979 he wrote what is often identified as the first North American work on philosophy of technology, Technics and Praxis. Before his retirement, Don Ihde was Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

Reviews

[xenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

In place of the subject or object, we derive a cybernetic merger of the two, as both inevitably morph together in their interaction.

Ihde explores this perspective through science, especially the use of optics, which both works to extend and alter our perception of the world.

Depending on what technologies are used, we image things in the world that would have never been seen, such as cosmic radiation, radio waves, and other phenomena converted from spectra or ranges, unencounterable through the human body.

Science has never been a neutral endeavor, both translating phenomena into readable data, and directly intervening in processes to grasp them.

Objectivity then, is intersubjective and embodied.

[Les Dart · Rating 5 out of 5]

First two chapters are excellent, brief intro to contemporary phil of tech. Chapter three defines and describes technoscience. Ihde provides a summary of his own corpus and is direction in the phil of tech. This is a collection of lectures, so very well organized, and designed to give the reader (listener) a grasp of the key concepts in philtech.

[Vidar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gives a good introduction to the thinking of Don Ihde . Perfect for those interested in Science Studies and materiality in social interaction more in general