Spirituality and technology: a threefold philosophical reflection

Abstract

Despite the prominent role that technology plays intwenty-first-century societies, the intersections between spiritualityand technology have been poorly analyzed. This article develops across-reflection between these two key anthropological aspects, usinga philosophical approach that structures the analysis along three clas-sical categories: transcendence, immanence, and relationality. Draw-ing from ideas of philosophers, such as Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty, the article sheds light on problematic aspects of technologythat spirituality helps identify and for which it suggests solutions. Symmetrically, the analysis shows commonly inadvertent aspects ofspirituality that technology brings to the fore. All in all, spiritualityappears as an essential dimension to cultivate in technological soci-eties, while technology might reveal spirituality as richer and deeperthan has been apparent in traditional settings.