The Spirit of Technology: A Pneumatological Analysis of the Discourse on Technique

Abstract

This thesis explores the use of spirit-language in technological discourse in order to show that the category of spirit is viable within technological discourse and that spiritlanguage can be a new way for theology to engage with technology.

This thesis demonstrates the need for theological engagement with technology, in the first place, by surveying the existence of moral evaluations in current popular and academic discourse about technique and by citing examples of comparable engagement drawn from ethical discourse and from ancient mythologies. Since morality, ethics, and mythology traditionally belong to religion and theology, theological engagement with technology is warranted. Yet, the current state of theological engagement with technology is typically cautious. In this context, the recent introduction of spirit-language into technological discourse opens up a new and important way for theology to engage critically and constructively with technology.

This thesis then surveys the use of spirit-language in technological discourse in order to create a context for theological engagement with technology. “Spirit” is conceptualized in various and inconsistent ways in technological discourse. The “spirits” assumed by technological discourse have religious, ethical, and social consequences. Analysis and evaluation of these implicit pneumatologies represent ways for theology to critically and constructively engage with technology.