Technological way of thinking and Orthodoxy

1. Entity type Lemma
2. Original titleТехнологическое мышление и Православие
3. Language term Russian
4. lemma author Saprykin, Dmitry
5. lemma category Concepts of knowledge and modes of reasoning > Orthodox gnosiology - Concepts of knowledge and modes of reasoning > Philosophy of science/epistemology
6. Publication date 2009
7. lemma work Katasonov, Vladimir [Author]. The XX century civilization crisis and Orthodoxy (On the Boundaries of Technological Thinking)
8. lemma manifestations Христианство. Культура. Наука. : Christianity. Culture. Science.
9. Keywords technology - Descartes, René
10. Citations
    1. http://katasonov-vn.narod.ru/statji/razdel1/1-3_v.n.katasonov_civilizacionnyj_krizis_xx_stolet.htm
11. Lemma body

    1. The article explains technological approach in modern culture in the light of Orthodox epistemology.

       From the author’s point of view, the abstract understanding of technologies prevailing in our modern culture was formed under the influence of the XV-XVII centuries’ Western Europe spiritual climate, with its understanding of man as a self-asserting individual. Cartesian methodical thinking with its demands to think clearly and distinctly gave rise to that philosophical attitude which eventually led to an understanding of technology, as simply a "machine" for solving problems indifferent to the meaning of the latter. In the internal life of man, technological strategy generates a utopian project to reduce the thought to the concept of information, i.e. to knowledge accessible to machine processing. This understanding further led both to the machine technology development, to restructuring of theoretical knowledge, and finally to that definite relation towards nature, which turned into a deep ecological crisis in our time.

       Katasonov examines the consequences of using the technology approach in politics and education and concludes that technologies are not enough; a personality, an individual who implements all this, is important. Only a personality can educate a personality; technology may be useful, but "without Reason" - both mind and soul of a student will be killed.

       The Orthodox world outlook, the author asserts, is essentially non-technological. Life for Orthodoxy is not an application of an algorithm, not a "substitution of values into a general formula," but a creative process, not through the development of technology, but through synergy, co-creation with God. Of course, there is a place in the Orthodox culture for technologies (for example, the technique of Jesus' prayer), but all these methods are aimed at one thing: approaching God Himself, winning the Holy Spirit, which is always a highly uncontrolled (from the human side) process, a live meeting with God.

       This Orthodox approach to technology is rooted in Orthodox epistemology, Katasonov believes, as enlightenment by the Spirit of God, by the uncreated Light of Divine Grace acting in our world, and more: as penetration through the Spirit of God into the most ontological core of existence. "These divine influxes being the source of scientific insights as well, do not fit, however, into the language of scientific schemes and technological prescriptions. A Christian ascetic does not seek truth as a technological scheme, as an effective scientific theory, but for Truth, as an inner involvement in the True Being itself, as theosis, communion with God through the energies. "

       Orthodox culture, the author concludes, always acts as a correlate and the basis of criticism of modern technological culture. And more: it always raises a question of possibility of another science, another praxeology and alternative civilization.