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Techne

February 16, 2024

For other uses, see Techne (disambiguation).

In Ancient Greek philosophy, techne (Greek: τέχνη, romanized: tékhnē, lit. 'art, skill, craft'; Ancient Greek: [tékʰnɛː], Modern Greek: [ˈtexni]) is a philosophical concept that refers to making or doing.[1] Today the modern definition and use of "practical knowledge" is similar to the Ancient Greek definition of techne,[2] whereas the latter can include various fields such as mathematics, geometry,[3][4] medicine, shoemaking, rhetoric, philosophy, music, and astronomy.[4]

One of the definitions led by Aristotle, for example, is "a state involving true reason concerned with production".[5]

History of the term edit

Many Ancient Greek philosophers, such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, had difficulty coming up with a single definition for techne and there is differentiation between the ways that these philosophers used the term.[6]

The word techne comes from the Greek word for art, skill, craft, and technique. The modern-day English word technology comes from the prefix techne and the suffix ology; both words are of Greek origin combined to mean "the practical application of knowledge".[7] Techne in Ancient Greece was thought of as dangerous in its virtues by many philosophers, including Plato.[8] Arts such as paintings and sculptures were particularly thought to be unvirtuous because of their "third-hand [representation] of "true" reality and absolute beauty".[8] Other philosophers, such as Aristotle, believed that techne was virtuous because it uses natural materials "to create objects unknown in nature" and therefore it "completes nature".[8]

 
Greek harpist with an angular harp from a red-figure krater from 4th century B.C.E.

Ancient Greek Philosophers edit

Socrates edit

The Ancient Greek philosopher Xenophon wrote down conversations he had with Socrates in the Socratic works Memorabilia and Oeconomicus.[6] In both of these works, Socrates uses episteme and techne interchangeably.[6] Crafts that Socrates classifies as techne include harp playing, flute playing, dancing, wrestling, medicine, carpentry, ruling, generalship, housebuilding, running a household, farming, and mathematics.[6][9]

Plato edit

 
Plaster cast of Ancient Greek physician and patient from Wellcome Historical Medical Museum

The Ancient Greek Philosopher Plato often used episteme and techne interchangeably, much like Socrates.[6] This is because Plato was a student of Socrates and also wrote Socratic works.[10] Plato's works define techne as activities such as medicine, geometry, politics, music, shipbuilding, carpentry, and generalship.[6] Plato's dialogues introduce the idea of a practitioner connected to a craft, such as a physician with medicine.[11][12][13] Plato introduced the idea of techne as a way to explain aspects of life such as virtue.[6] This increased the complexity of the definition of techne, adding that crafts are separated by what the end product will be or what the activity accomplishes.[6] Plato's writings also reveal that he believed the most important job of the practitioner was to be able to explain what they were doing and why they were doing it.[6][11]

Aristotle edit

 
Model of Ancient Greek Trireme in Athens, Greece

Aristotle does not use techne and episteme interchangeably as Socrates and Plato did before him. He distinguishes clearly between the two terms.[6] Aristotle includes techne and episteme in his five virtues of intellect: episteme, techne, phronesis, sophia, and nous.[6][14] In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle wrote that techne not only meant craft but also production (for example: the production of a ship).[14] Richard Parry wrote that Aristotle believed techne aims for good and forms an end, which could be the activity itself or a product formed from the activity.[6] Aristotle used health as an example of an end that is produced by the techne of medicine.[6] Like Plato's beliefs about the importance of a practitioner being able to explain their craft, Aristotle believed that the practitioner with the knowledge of techne could teach their skill because they not only had the wisdom of the craft but also understood the outcome.[6][15]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Honderich, Ted, ed. (1995). The Oxford companion to philosophy. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0-19-866132-0.
  2. ^ Johansen, Thomas Kjeller (2021-02-04). Productive Knowledge in Ancient Philosophy: The Concept of Technê. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-62415-2.
  3. ^ Angier 2010, p. 33.
  4. ^ a b Richter & Johnson 2017, p. 374.
  5. ^ Cohoe 2022, p. 3.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Parry, Richard (2021), "Episteme and Techne", in Zalta, Edward N. (ed.), The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2021 ed.), Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, retrieved 2023-06-05
  7. ^ "Definition of TECHNOLOGY". www.merriam-webster.com. 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  8. ^ a b c "Andrew Stewart, One Hundred Greek Sculptors, Their Careers and Extant Works, Introduction, Sources". www.perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  9. ^ "The Memorabilia, by Xenophon". www.gutenberg.org. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  10. ^ "Plato | Life, Philosophy, & Works | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  11. ^ a b "CHARMIDES, by Plato". www.gutenberg.org. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  12. ^ "The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Republic, by Plato". www.gutenberg.org. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  13. ^ "Laws, by Plato". www.gutenberg.org. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  14. ^ a b "The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Nicomachean Ethics of Aristotle, by Aristotle". www.gutenberg.org. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  15. ^ "Aristotle, Metaphysics, Book 1, section 981b". www.perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 2023-06-05.

References edit

  • Angier, Tom (2010-12-02). Techne in Aristotle's Ethics: Crafting the Moral Life. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781441134714.
  • Cohoe, Caleb Murray (2022-01-07). "Knowing in Aristotle part 2: Technē, phronēsis, sophia, and divine cognitive activities". Philosophy Compass. 17 (1): 1–9. doi:10.1111/phc3.12799. S2CID 245055959.
  • Richter, Daniel S.; Johnson, William A. (2017-10-24). The Oxford Handbook of the Second Sophistic. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199837489.

Further reading edit

February 16, 2024
techne, other, uses, disambiguation, ancient, greek, philosophy, techne, greek, τέχνη, romanized, tékhnē, skill, craft, ancient, greek, tékʰnɛː, modern, greek, ˈtexni, philosophical, concept, that, refers, making, doing, today, modern, definition, practical, k. For other uses see Techne disambiguation In Ancient Greek philosophy techne Greek texnh romanized tekhne lit art skill craft Ancient Greek tekʰnɛː Modern Greek ˈtexni is a philosophical concept that refers to making or doing 1 Today the modern definition and use of practical knowledge is similar to the Ancient Greek definition of techne 2 whereas the latter can include various fields such as mathematics geometry 3 4 medicine shoemaking rhetoric philosophy music and astronomy 4 One of the definitions led by Aristotle for example is a state involving true reason concerned with production 5 Contents 1 History of the term 2 Ancient Greek Philosophers 2 1 Socrates 2 2 Plato 2 3 Aristotle 3 Notes 4 References 5 Further readingHistory of the term editMany Ancient Greek philosophers such as Socrates Plato and Aristotle had difficulty coming up with a single definition for techne and there is differentiation between the ways that these philosophers used the term 6 The word techne comes from the Greek word for art skill craft and technique The modern day English word technology comes from the prefix techne and the suffix ology both words are of Greek origin combined to mean the practical application of knowledge 7 Techne in Ancient Greece was thought of as dangerous in its virtues by many philosophers including Plato 8 Arts such as paintings and sculptures were particularly thought to be unvirtuous because of their third hand representation of true reality and absolute beauty 8 Other philosophers such as Aristotle believed that techne was virtuous because it uses natural materials to create objects unknown in nature and therefore it completes nature 8 nbsp Greek harpist with an angular harp from a red figure krater from 4th century B C E Ancient Greek Philosophers editSocrates edit The Ancient Greek philosopher Xenophon wrote down conversations he had with Socrates in the Socratic works Memorabilia and Oeconomicus 6 In both of these works Socrates uses episteme and techne interchangeably 6 Crafts that Socrates classifies as techne include harp playing flute playing dancing wrestling medicine carpentry ruling generalship housebuilding running a household farming and mathematics 6 9 Plato edit nbsp Plaster cast of Ancient Greek physician and patient from Wellcome Historical Medical MuseumThe Ancient Greek Philosopher Plato often used episteme and techne interchangeably much like Socrates 6 This is because Plato was a student of Socrates and also wrote Socratic works 10 Plato s works define techne as activities such as medicine geometry politics music shipbuilding carpentry and generalship 6 Plato s dialogues introduce the idea of a practitioner connected to a craft such as a physician with medicine 11 12 13 Plato introduced the idea of techne as a way to explain aspects of life such as virtue 6 This increased the complexity of the definition of techne adding that crafts are separated by what the end product will be or what the activity accomplishes 6 Plato s writings also reveal that he believed the most important job of the practitioner was to be able to explain what they were doing and why they were doing it 6 11 Aristotle edit nbsp Model of Ancient Greek Trireme in Athens GreeceAristotle does not use techne and episteme interchangeably as Socrates and Plato did before him He distinguishes clearly between the two terms 6 Aristotle includes techne and episteme in his five virtues of intellect episteme techne phronesis sophia and nous 6 14 In Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle wrote that techne not only meant craft but also production for example the production of a ship 14 Richard Parry wrote that Aristotle believed techne aims for good and forms an end which could be the activity itself or a product formed from the activity 6 Aristotle used health as an example of an end that is produced by the techne of medicine 6 Like Plato s beliefs about the importance of a practitioner being able to explain their craft Aristotle believed that the practitioner with the knowledge of techne could teach their skill because they not only had the wisdom of the craft but also understood the outcome 6 15 Notes edit Honderich Ted ed 1995 The Oxford companion to philosophy Oxford Oxford Univ Press ISBN 978 0 19 866132 0 Johansen Thomas Kjeller 2021 02 04 Productive Knowledge in Ancient Philosophy The Concept of Techne Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 1 108 62415 2 Angier 2010 p 33 a b Richter amp Johnson 2017 p 374 Cohoe 2022 p 3 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Parry Richard 2021 Episteme and Techne in Zalta Edward N ed The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Winter 2021 ed Metaphysics Research Lab Stanford University retrieved 2023 06 05 Definition of TECHNOLOGY www merriam webster com 2023 06 03 Retrieved 2023 06 05 a b c Andrew Stewart One Hundred Greek Sculptors Their Careers and Extant Works Introduction Sources www perseus tufts edu Retrieved 2023 06 05 The Memorabilia by Xenophon www gutenberg org Retrieved 2023 06 05 Plato Life Philosophy amp Works Britannica www britannica com Retrieved 2023 06 05 a b CHARMIDES by Plato www gutenberg org Retrieved 2023 06 05 The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Republic by Plato www gutenberg org Retrieved 2023 06 05 Laws by Plato www gutenberg org Retrieved 2023 06 05 a b The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Nicomachean Ethics of Aristotle by Aristotle www gutenberg org Retrieved 2023 06 05 Aristotle Metaphysics Book 1 section 981b www perseus tufts edu Retrieved 2023 06 05 References editAngier Tom 2010 12 02 Techne in Aristotle s Ethics Crafting the Moral Life Bloomsbury Publishing ISBN 9781441134714 Cohoe Caleb Murray 2022 01 07 Knowing in Aristotle part 2 Techne phronesis sophia and divine cognitive activities Philosophy Compass 17 1 1 9 doi 10 1111 phc3 12799 S2CID 245055959 Richter Daniel S Johnson William A 2017 10 24 The Oxford Handbook of the Second Sophistic Oxford University Press ISBN 9780199837489 Further reading edit nbsp Philosophy portalDunne Joseph 1997 Back to the Rough Ground Phronesis and Techne in Modern Philosophy and in Aristotle Notre Dame IN University of Notre Dame Press ISBN 978 0268006891 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Techne amp oldid 1191099439, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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