技术哲学与技术史:区别与联系

技术哲学和技术史都起源于德国,是20世纪发展迅速的两个研究领域或学科门类。两者虽然研究主体都是"技术",但这个"技术"概念在这两个研究领域或学科中是不同的。技术哲学研究的技术有很强的抽象性,技术史研究的技术有很强的实证性,二者在研究对象、研究内容与范围、方法论、价值观、学科性质、学科成熟度、成果表达、研究人员素质等诸方面都有很大的不同。然而二者又有十分密切的联系。正如拉卡托斯套用康德的格言所说的"没有科学史的科学哲学是空洞的;没有科学哲学的科学史是盲目的"那样,完全可以认为:"没有技术史的技术哲学是空洞的,没有技术哲学的技术史是盲目的。"

Philosophy of Technology and Technical History: Difference and Relation

Philosophy of technology and technical history both originated in Germany,they are the two study areas or subject categories which rapidly developed in the 20th century.Though the main research bodies all are "technology",the concept of "technology" in the two research fields or disciplines are different.Technology researched by philosophy of technology is highly abstract and the one researched by technical history is highly empirical,there is great difference between them in subjects,the content and scope,methodology,values,and nature,the subject maturity,the outcome expression,Researchers' quality.However,they also have very close ties.As Lakatos quote the motto of Kant said: "The Philosophy of science is empty without history of science;the history of science is blind without scientific philosophy." We should fully consider: "The philosophy of technology is empty without the technical history,the technology history is blind without technical philosophy".