Ernst Kapp – Organ Projection

Abstract

In this chapter is discussed the important theory expressed by Kapp in the work Grundlinien einer Philosophie der Technik (1877). In his vision Kapp supports the idea that mankind was the engine principle of history and culture, who used technics to submit the world in the process to self-awareness. Kapp argued that everything mankind produces, as a result of projection of its organs, is to be interpreted as technics, then the only road to self-awareness leads through technics. Moreover, the only thing mankind can learn about itself is that in essence mankind is a technical species. This double movement is called “law of organic projection”. In our interpretation he is true not only for the tools but also for each type of machine.