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The Origins of Modern Technology in Millenarianism

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Philosophy and Technology

Part of the book series: Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science ((BSPS,volume 80))

Abstract

In the context of a criticism of the traditional philosophy of technology, Simon Moser discusses Donald Brinkmann’s proposition that “the consciousness of a need for salvation within Christianity combines with a certain religious longing in man in the technical age that salvation can be achieved by the active shaping of reality and that it does not depend on an act of grace from God.”1 According to Brinkmann, a process of secularization has changed the direction of the energy of belief in Christians. Originally it was concentrated on the transcendental; now it is directed toward the technical shaping of this world. This is his explanation not only for the origin of the technical age, but also for the “enormous stimulus” which still gives present technology its energy.

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© 1983 D. Reidel Publishing Company

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Maurer, R. (1983). The Origins of Modern Technology in Millenarianism. In: Durbin, P.T., Rapp, F. (eds) Philosophy and Technology. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol 80. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7124-0_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7124-0_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-7126-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-7124-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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