When the Category of “形(Natural Shape)” Encounters the Concept of “Affordance”: the Illumination on Philosophy of Technology

Abstract

: Chinese philosophy rarely discusses the origin of technology except the phrase “what beyond (natural shape) is Tao ( 道 ), what beneath 形 (natural shape) is (artifacts).” Traditional philosophy uses 形 as a medium and demonstrates the essence and relationship between intangible Tao and visible 器 . However, the philosophy of 形 itself and using it as a connection to Tao and 器 are not explicitly discussed. In the early 20th century, at the human-nature interface, where technology originated, the category “affordance” emerged. Affordance refers to the possibility contained in the environment for action and indicates the complimentary relationship between a living being and its environment, which also manifests profound connotations to 形 . If we assume 形 as the logical starting point to study the origin of technology, technological ethics, and other issue, it is possible to open the dialogue between China and the West about technology by breaking the boundaries of various disciplines and transcending different kinds of philosophical traditions.