Technique and freedom: Jacques Ellul's philosophy of technology and dialectical theology.

摘要

Much academic work on Jacques Ellul exclusively focuses either on his philosophy or his theology---rarely both. Furthermore, many scholarly writings have failed to properly understand Ellul's dialectical worldview and methodology. By employing Ellul's conception of dialectic, this study weaves the essential aspects of Ellul's philosophy of technology and his dialectical theology into a single, coherent whole.;In the introduction and first two chapters of this study, Ellul's primary intellectual influences and unique dialectical worldview are introduced. Chapter Three provides an overview of the field of philosophy of technology, then thoroughly examines Ellul's stance within it---particularly his concept of technique. Chapter Four delves into the consequences of technique, focusing on propaganda and politics. In chapters five and six, the counterpart to Ellul's philosophy is revealed: his dialectical theology. Here, Ellul's conceptions of God, universal salvation, and freedom are explored, followed by an analysis of his views of hope, non-violence, and Christian anarchism. Finally, the ideals of harmony and reconciliation---which are the culmination of Ellul's thought---are systematically explored.;Throughout these chapters, Ellul is presented in an uncommon way: by utilizing the very dialectical method he demonstrated in his own work. As the skeleton key to a comprehensive understanding of Ellul, his dialectic is present within every chapter of this study, proving that it is needed for a complete understanding of his thought. Moreover, the sections on propaganda, non-violence, and Christian anarchism describe facets of Ellul's scholarship that are often overlooked. Overall, this study provides insight into the profound and neglected message of Jacques Ellul: a truly integral thinker whose message is at once relevant, hopeful, and prophetic.