The Homo Poieticus and the Bridge Between Physis and Techne

Abstract

The digital revolution, according to Luciano Floridi, brings up again questions about the relations between physis and techne. This revolution in fact fuels the ancient tensions between nature to be passively observed and known (physis) and practical science or art that somewhat interferes with it (techne). As a consequence, digital technologies put upfront the fact that the agent, interfering with nature, creates—rather than simply happens to be in—situations liable to moral judgment. This ‘poietic’ dimension of the agent’s behaviour, according to Floridi, makes traditional ethical approaches unsuitable to the new environments created by the digital revolution. Thus, if the tension between physis and techne can be dissolved, this will be done, in Floridi’s view, by a contructionist ethics. In this approach, the `homo poieticus’ herself creates the e-nvironments and situations she is in, and, consequently, she can have an ‘ethical grip’ on those situations. Following in Floridi’s footsteps, the paper makes the case for the following two points. First, the tension between physis and techne is not especially created by digital technology, but is raised by technologies, in general. Second, the homo poieticus is not only the ethical agent, but also the technoscientist, because she creates crafts and knowledge, and the philosopher, because she creates concepts.