The importance of education in comprehending and judging technology

Technology, in its broadest sense, is the greatest resource of the human species. If philosophers contemplate the cosmos in its entirety, they do so by using a wide range of technical tools, developed over the course of human history. Moreover, as part of the cosmos, philosophers contemplate technology itself: not only the development of technology, but also the reason for its use and how it is passed on to future generations. Education therefore assumes a central role in the existence of humankind. While in the first instance the task of education is the transmission of technical skills, in the second instance it is perhaps more important to educate to judge technology and technological progress. Judging technology is crucial whenever progress leads to new gaps in the normative system and value system of a human society.