The Philosophy of Günther Anders with Christopher John Müller
Sep 13, 2023
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Christopher John Müller, a Senior Lecturer at Macquarie University, discusses the philosophy of Günther Anders. They explore shame and technology, the fear of death and 'industrial reincarnation,' Anders' writing style and technological eschatology, the overwhelming nature of the post-literary, and an overview of Anders' philosophy.
Gunther Anders' work challenges the idea of human freedom in the face of advancing technology, highlighting the irony that improved technology can make us more aware of our own limitations.
Shame serves as a central concept in Gunther Anders' philosophy, leading to feelings of unsettlement and comparisons to others when confronted with our own limitations and mistakes.
Anders' philosophy explores the impact of technology on human existence, highlighting the feeling of inadequacy and limitation as technology continues to outperform humans in various areas.
Deep dives
Gunther Anders: An Overlooked Philosopher of Technology
Gunther Anders, a philosopher primarily focused on technology, is a significant yet often overlooked figure in English-speaking academia. Born in 1902, he experienced major events of the 20th century, including World War I, anti-Semitism, and exile during the Nazi regime. Anders published most of his work after the age of 50, and his ideas resonate with topics such as shame, bodily automatisms, and the impact of technological systems on human existence. His work challenges the idea of human freedom, arguing that technology has the potential to outclass humans, making us feel limited and inferior. Anders suggests that as technology evolves and becomes more capable, humans seem increasingly constrained in comparison. He highlights the irony that improved technology can make us increasingly aware of the limits of our own existence. Anders also critiques philosophers like Heidegger, who fail to address the realities of industrialized technological systems. He argues for a new era in which humans must learn to coexist with technology and adapt to its forces, as escaping them is impossible. Anders' work provides insights into the deep connection between technology and human experience, exploring themes of shame, freedom, and the relationship between humans and machines.
The Influence of Shame in Gunther Anders' Philosophy
Shame serves as a central concept in Gunther Anders' philosophy. In his essay 'The Pathology of Freedom,' Anders explores shame as an affective response to the realization of our limitations and the contingent nature of our existence. Anders proposes that shame arises when we experience ourselves as we truly are, while simultaneously being aware of the possibilities of being different. The experience of shame leads us to compare ourselves to others and feel unsettled by our mistakes and shortcomings, confronting the limits of our own freedom. Anders suggests that shame becomes a driving force in our lives, influencing the various ways we respond to this existential shock. He identifies historical, nihilistic, and other responses to shame, emphasizing that regardless of the chosen response, the memory of our lack of control and uncertainty about who we might become persists. Anders' examination of shame offers unique insights into the complexities of human identity and the connection between shame and technology.
Technology as a Source of Human Limitations in Gunther Anders' Philosophy
Gunther Anders' philosophical work explores the impact of technology on human existence. Anders highlights the feeling of embarrassment and limitation that arises when faced with technological objects that outperform humans in various areas. He argues that humans, with our bodily and cognitive limitations, feel inadequate in comparison to technological systems that continuously evolve and expand their capabilities. Anders suggests that as technology advances, humans increasingly encounter themselves as malfunctioning machines, highlighting our inability to keep up with the ever-improving efficiency and abilities of technology. This creates a rift between our perceived limitations and the limitless potential of technology. Anders' philosophy invites contemplation on the reciprocal relationship between humans and machines and the challenges posed by the presence of technology in our lives.
Loss of Human Relevance in the Face of AI
Anders discusses a case where an all-time Jeopardy champion was publicly humiliated by an AI program called Watson, highlighting the potential for AI to make humans feel superfluous and insignificant. He suggests that AI, if not properly regulated and applied, can lead to a future where humans are deprived of choices and agency, and their defining traits, such as free will and responsibility, become antiquated residues. He raises concerns about the devaluation of human existence in a world driven by technology.
The Impact of Technology on Human Identity
Anders questions the ends to which technology is being developed and the transformation it imposes on human existence. He argues that technology forces upon humans a certain way of being, creating a singular type that homogenizes and devalues individuality. He criticizes the shift towards a post-literary age, where text is joined by reproduced images, and emphasizes the significance of moments like the Industrial Revolution and the advent of nuclear weapons as defining moments of modernity. Anders suggests that technology is reshaping our understanding of what it means to be human, challenging concepts such as bodily measures and limitations.
Dr. Chris Muller is Senior Lecturer, Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language and Literature at Macquarie University.
Book link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prometheanism-Technology-Critical-Perspectives-Politics/dp/1783482389
“Apocalypse Blindness”, Climate Trauma and the Politics of Future
oriented Affect (Anders and Cormac McCarthy’s The Road):
https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/SXZQBDNCNMRRZFXYZT6P/full?target=10.1080/0969725X.2023.2233808
(50 free downloads) “Utopia Inverted" Intro to Special Journal
Issue, Anders Technology and the Social:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0725513619865638 Prometheanism:
https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781783482382/Prometheanism-Technology-Digital-Culture-and-Human-Obsolescence
(PDF easily downloadable online) Anders & Nuclear Criticism: https://aeon.co/essays/gunther-anders-a-forgotten-prophet-for-the-21st-century Anders Podcast Real is not Real Enough: https://www.goethe.de/ins/au/en/kul/lok/gap.html
