Rationlality and rational subject in the technological development. An approach from Nicholas Rescher´s point of view

Abstract

At the beginning of the 21st century, we “suffer” from technocratization, roboticisation and automation in all areas of the human -being whether considered as scientific and technological development processes or as phenomena. The former as cause and the latter as effects of technocratization, if we accept that both development processes and phenomena are part of an inherited Western scientific and technological tradition. What we suffer from or enjoy in today’s techno-scientific world is the result of the accumulation of both past time knowledge and a variety of cultures as well as an ability to create technology, which together with the knowledge still to be discovered and produced, make it impossible for us to acquire these types of knowledge. A triad of technique, technology and science presents a major challenge for human beings as subjects of knowledge: maintaining a level of objectivity in rational actions. Following Rescher, I understand rational actions of man as evaluative, argumentative and deliberative. Accordingly, man is a rational being and has prior knowledge about both the type and process of technology development and its characteristics and conditions of acquisition and use. However, nowadays, when we speak of knowledge societies, Philosophy and, particularly, Philosophy of Technology has developed an unprecedented interest in the phenomena, conditions and modes concerning science and technology development. From this point of view, this paper will focus on the rational subject and the possibilities of rationality accessible to that subject in view of the technological development and, particularly, of Nicholas Rescher’s theoretical approach.