Abstract

The paper presents a reflection on the role of technology in the era of knowledge civilization. Diverse perceptions of this era, the concepts of three civilization eras versus three waves, of a conceptual platform versus an episteme of a civilization era, of a big change at the end of industrial civilization era are outlined. The deepening separation of the three spheres of technology, hard science, and social science with humanities is discussed. The contemporary philosophy of technology is shortly reviewed; it is shown that some of its writings represent anti-technological attitudes and disregard the opinions of technologists even in the question of defining technology. An interpretation of technology proposed by M. Heidegger in Die Technik und die Kehre leads to a distinction between technology proper and the system of its socio-economic applications. The relation of technology proper to hard science and to socio-economic applications of technology forms two positive feedback loops. The second feedback loop, the one of socio-economic applications, might be more dangerous in cases of social infatuation with technological possibilities. Limiting such dangers is the responsibility of technology brokers and those who educate them - social, economic, management sciences. It is shown that the technology of knowledge civilization era will differ from that of industrial era in proposing boundless number of diversified technological possibilities. Thus, the Heideggerian warning against social infatuation with technological possibilities must be modified and strengthened