The Comparative Study On Heidegger And Masterzhuang's Thoughts Of Technology

The purpose of Heidegger's reflection on the nature of modem technology is to criticizetraditional metaphysics. While Master Zhuang's interpretation of "technology of Tao" and"machinery of Tao" is to discuss Tao from the perspective of technology. Technology is not a tool,but in their theories, it acts as a tool. Heidegger holds that the danger of technology lies in humanbeings' indifference to think, therefore, the key for breaking away from the danger or technology isto awaken human beings to think and find "the way of existence" once again. Master Zhuang arguesthat human's loss of freedom results from the restraint of material. Only in forgetting all thatrestrain us can we achieve Tao. Thinking and forgetting are all viewed from the reflection on theutility of technology.As a result, they are the proper way of reaching the ideal state. Thinking andforgetting are not only a way of overcoming the flaw of technology, but also a way of changinghuman beings' life style and attitude. This kind of change is from the opposition of human andnature to the union of them. In Heidegger's view, human beings are the guard of existence and onlyin harmony with the heaven, the earth and the God can they guard existence. For Master Zhuang, allthings are equal in Tao, therefore, human beings shouldn't humanize them by the force oftechnology. They must make their ends accord with the nature of all things if they want to acquireTao. The insistent questions about technology aim at the care for human beings. What Heideggerand Master Zhuang have done is not only to sit there to discuss Tao but also to awaken humanbeings' pursuit of freedom and beauty. Poets and Sages are figures living in the ideal state offreedom and beauty. With ideal personality, they provide human beings with eternal spiritualguidance and require them to live for freedom. The ideal personality of poets and Sages, perhaps, isa kind of state that common people can not acquire, but as long as they are thinking and forgetting,they are on the way of freedom and beauty.