Techne

Template:Short description {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} In Ancient Greek philosophy, techne (Template:Langx; {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, {{#invoke:IPA|main}}) is a philosophical concept that refers to making or doing.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Today, while the Ancient Greek definition of techne is similar to the modern definition and use of "practical knowledge",<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> techne can include various fields such as mathematics, geometry,Template:Sfn Template:Sfn medicine, shoemaking, rhetoric, philosophy, music, and astronomy.Template:Sfn

One of the definitions of techne led by Aristotle, for example, is "a state involving true reason concerned with production".Template:Sfn

History of the termEdit

Many Ancient Greek philosophers, such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, had difficulty coming up with a single definition for techne and there is differentiation between the ways that these philosophers used the term.<ref name=":1">Template:Citation</ref>

The word techne comes from the Greek word for art, skill, craft, and technique. The modern-day English word technology comes from the prefix techne and the suffix ology; both words are of Greek origin combined to mean "the practical application of knowledge".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Techne in Ancient Greece was thought of as dangerous in its virtues by many philosophers, including Plato.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Arts such as paintings and sculptures were particularly thought to be unvirtuous because of their "third-hand [representation] of "true" reality and absolute beauty".<ref name=":0" /> Other philosophers, such as Aristotle, believed that techne was virtuous because it uses natural materials "to create objects unknown in nature" and therefore it "completes nature".<ref name=":0" />

Ancient Greek PhilosophersEdit

SocratesEdit

The Ancient Greek philosopher Xenophon wrote down conversations he had with Socrates in the Socratic works Memorabilia and Oeconomicus.<ref name=":1" /> In both of these works, Socrates uses episteme and techne interchangeably.<ref name=":1" /> Crafts that Socrates classifies as techne include harp playing, flute playing, dancing, wrestling, medicine, carpentry, ruling, generalship, housebuilding, running a household, farming, and mathematics.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

PlatoEdit

File:Greek physician and patient, plaster cast in W.H.M.M. Wellcome M0001578.jpg

Plaster cast of Ancient Greek physician and patient from Wellcome Historical Medical Museum

The Ancient Greek Philosopher Plato often used episteme and techne interchangeably, much like Socrates.<ref name=":1" /> This is because Plato was a student of Socrates and also wrote Socratic works.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Plato's works define techne as activities such as medicine, geometry, politics, music, shipbuilding, carpentry, and generalship.<ref name=":1" /> Plato's dialogues introduce the idea of a practitioner connected to a craft, such as a physician with medicine.<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Plato introduced the idea of techne as a way to explain aspects of life such as virtue.<ref name=":1" /> This increased the complexity of the definition of techne, adding that crafts are separated by what the end product will be or what the activity accomplishes.<ref name=":1" /> Plato's writings also reveal that he believed the most important job of the practitioner was to be able to explain what they were doing and why they were doing it.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

AristotleEdit

File:Model of ancient greek trireme, Athens, Greece - panoramio.jpg

Model of Ancient Greek Trireme in Athens, Greece

Aristotle does not use techne and episteme interchangeably as Socrates and Plato did before him. He distinguishes clearly between the two terms.<ref name=":1" /> Aristotle includes techne and episteme in his five virtues of intellect: episteme, techne, phronesis, sophia, and nous.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle wrote that techne not only meant craft but also production (for example: the production of a ship).<ref name=":3" /> Richard Parry wrote that Aristotle believed techne aims for good and forms an end, which could be the activity itself or a product formed from the activity.<ref name=":1" /> Aristotle used health as an example of an end that is produced by the techne of medicine.<ref name=":1" /> Like Plato's beliefs about the importance of a practitioner being able to explain their craft, Aristotle believed that the practitioner with the knowledge of techne could teach their skill because they not only had the wisdom of the craft but also understood the outcome.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

NotesEdit

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