Customer Reviews

The Question Concerning Technology, and Other Essays

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The Question Concerning Technology frequently has been criticized as lacking content beneath Heidegger's stormy language. Not true! It may take more than one reading (it took me about 5), but once the meaning of the concept of Enframing really takes a hold of you, it becomes the most powerful and relevant philosophical concept since Nietzsche's will to power. Responding to the challenge of Enframing, man has reduced the world of Being to his own self-referential bubble. Heidegger's words are at times the bleakest that the 20th century has to offer, yet in the second essay "The Turning," he suggests that Enframing's pervasive control of the world also provides a context for true, authentic behavior through the resistance of this powerful force. Authenticity is not a possibility for Heidegger without danger. For the detailed and patient reader, Heidegger provides a compelling description of global technology and its implications, distinguishing between the essence of technology and technological activity as well as the vibrations the essence of technology stirs in the realms of truth and ethics.

For anyone interested in the philosophy of science and technology these essays are essential reading. Heidegger's observations are just as relevant today as they were 50 years ago. In addition to the title essay, "The Age of the World Picture" and "Science and Reflection" are both great essays with rich insights.

Yes, Heidegger is difficult. Heidegger is always difficult. But it is worth trudging through.

For those seriously attempting to understand Heidegger's essays this is a very helpful edition; although I do not know German, Levitt really seems to understand both Heidegger and the nuances of the German language. His notes (while not necessarily clearer than Heidegger) help the English speaker get into the nuances lost in translation which is of utmost importance.

Seriously, I'm not into philosophy and I only read this book for one of my generals. I'm a senior in Computer Science and I thought this would maybe give me a different view on technology. Not exactly, really there is nothing technical at all and it's a really hard to read. After you start to understand his language (yeah feels like a whole new language), you start to understand his meaning. I find his dense sentences to be necessary though, after you start to understand what he's saying it gets pretty entertaining.

Thing is you can get everything in this book online somewhere, and some guides that will help you through it. I read better with a hard copy, which is the only reason I bought the book. Turns out this guy is pretty big in the philosophy world, so it's a good read if that stuff intrigues you. Personally, I'm going to stick to programming and stay "enframed".

Very prompt and efficient service. Thank you for dedication to getting the material needed to me as quickly and inexpensively as possible. Riley

This book is what it is. Be prepared to be confronted with terse, abstract language. If you are feeling up to the challenge of figuring out it's nuances and insights, give it a go. I was particularly interested in the essay about the pros and cons about technology. However, I was somewhat overwhelmed by the diction of the book and never got around to reading much. I have set aside the book for a time later in life when I am more mature and patient and ready to wrestle with contemplating the full meaning. I was also disappointed to learn from others that Heidegger may have been rather Anti-Semitic against Jews despite his literary contributions. There's really nothing to complain about nor anything to celebrate. Another old dead philospher leaves his mark upon the world and we are left pondering the meaning.

After reading Heidegger I feel as if I sort of understand nature and the nature channel.