The concept of “Universal apparatus” (Universalapparat) in Günther Anders

• Autor(a) principal: Ribeiro Mendes, João
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Trans/Form/Ação (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://revistas.marilia.unesp.br/index.php/transformacao/article/view/11433
• topic: Universal Apparatus; Günther Anders; Technology; Human Condition; History; Dispositivo Universal; Günther Anders; Tecnologia; Condição Humana; História

More or less in the last half century, a process of planetarization of Technology is underway, which in the order of causes will have been more directly determined by the politicaleconomic Globalization woven and imposed by the so-called Neoliberalism and more remotelyinfluenced by successive industrial revolutions since the 18th century. It implied a transformation in the nature of Technology, ceasing to be a mere means (utensil, tool, instrument) for certain purposes and becoming a vital and existential environment. Günther Anders was an attentive, perceptive and critical observer of this phenomenon that, in his jargon, he conceived as the advent of a “Universal apparatus” (Universalapparat). I dedicate the first part of this article to reread the German philosopher’s interpretation of his supposed genesis and evolution. In the second part, I analyze this concept. In the third part, I explore two main philosophical consequences of this phenomenon.