Gestell (or sometimes Ge-stell) is a German word used by Twentieth century German philosopher Martin Heidegger to describe what lies behind or beneath modern technology.^[1]

[edit] Heiddegger's notion of Ge-Stell

This concept was applied to Heidegger's exposition of the essence of technology. The conclusion regarding the essence of technology was that technology is fundamentally enframing.^[2] As such, the essence of technology is Gestell. Indeed, "Gestell, literally 'framing', is an all-encompassing view of technology, not as a means to an end, but rather a mode of human existence." ^[3]

The point that Heidegger was attempting to convey with Gestell was that all that has come to presence in the world has been enframed. Thus what is revealed in the world, what has shown itself as itself (the truth of itself) required first an enframing, literally a way to exist in the world, to be able to be seen and understood. Concerning the essence of technology and how we see things in our technological age, the world has been framed as the "standing-reserve." Heidegger writes,

Enframing means the gathering together of that setting-upon which sets upon man, i.e., challenges him forth, to reveal the real, in the mode of ordering, as standing-reserve. Enframing means that way of revealing which holds sway in the essence of modern technology and which is itself nothing technological.

Furthermore, concerning Heidegger's use of the word Gestell, another point must be noted. Heidegger uses the word in a way that is uncommon by giving Gestell an active role. In ordinary usage the word would signify simply an apparatus of some sort like a bookrack, but for Heidegger Gestell is literally a challenging forth and a "gathering together" for the purpose of revealing. Gestell is a demanding summons through an assembly and an ordering.

[edit] Later uses of the concept

This section requires expansion.

[edit] References

1. ^ Mitcham, Carl (1994). Thinking Through Technology. University of Chicago Press. p. 52. ISBN 0226531988. 
2. ^ Godzinski, Ronald (January 2005), "(En)Framing Heidegger’s Philosophy of Technology", Essays in Philosophy 6 (1), http://www.humboldt.edu/~essays/godzinski.html 
3. ^ [1]

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