portaxis.blogg.se

• #Hidden folks factory ivan how to#

This broad range of relevant elements, shifting between the levels of artifacts, technical systems, and societal arrangements, causes me to borrow from a range of approaches in philosophy and history of technology, as well as energy research and transition studies. The 'energy system' must therefore not be understood as limited to the oil-, gas-, and electricity-industry, but as involving the entire network of technologies and organizations that enables energy use, from power plants and grids to kitchen appliances and from oil fields to highways and the tendency to commute to work. In the introduction, it is pointed out that exosomatic (outside of the body) energy use started with the use of fire and the cooking of food, and enabled humanity to enroll a much larger range of energy sources to achieve their goals than was otherwise possible.

#Hidden folks factory ivan how to#

In the case of energy transition, it can point out how the current energy system inhibits the rise of the 'ethical consumer', why and how to move beyond the dominance of scarcity in discussions on energy transition, and how we may learn to appreciate energy consumption not just in terms of quantity, but also and especially in terms of quality and experience.

A philosophical perspective in general can point at possibly problematic implicit assumptions, aid discussions by introducing concepts and distinctions, and broaden the debate by embedding the issue in a broader context.

However, these initiatives often make slow progress, have conflicting visions of the required direction, and tend to focus on technological developments, rather than techno-social change. This dissertation is aimed at answering the question: how can philosophy of technology guide the emerging energy transition? The question is pertinent because in response to climate change, resource scarcity, local environmental issues, and concerns of national security, many initiatives are emerging aimed at changing in one way or another the system that powers our society. It is argued that therefore, energy transition should involve a re-appreciation of the function of energy consumption: to support, rather than to be central to life. Illich focuses on negative effects of high energy consumption at the societal level, whereas in my particular re-reading of Borgmann, one finds reasons why high energy consumption fails to realize intended positive effects. For different reasons, both authors are highly critical of the societal tendency to command ever-increasing amounts of energy.

It achieves this goal by connecting and critically assessing the writings of Ivan Illich and Albert Borgmann, which offer a number of concepts that enable a qualitative discussion on energy practices. Although typically understood as essential for people to thrive, this paper sketches a theoretical foundation for the possibility that the form and amount of energy consumption in modern society may inhibit rather than enable human flourishing. Energy consumption is central to both a number of pressing environmental issues and to people’s attempts to improve their well-being.