Tools - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Tools: Instruments of Transformation and Inquiry
Tools, seemingly simple instruments, are in essence extensions of human intention and the physical embodiment of human ingenuity. From the primeval hammerstone to the Large Hadron Collider, they represent a vast array of contrivances used to modify, manipulate, or master the environment. But have we truly mastered our tools, or do they, in turn, subtly shape us and our understanding of reality?
The earliest evidence of tool use dates back approximately 3.3 million years, predating the emergence of Homo sapiens. Archaeological findings at sites like Lomekwi in Kenya reveal rudimentary stone tools, indicating that our hominin ancestors were already employing technology to enhance their survival. References to tools become more explicit with the dawn of recorded history. Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets from the 3rd millennium BCE describe various implements used in agriculture and craft. The Epic of Gilgamesh, predating even Plato and Socrates, alludes to the construction of walled cities, a feat impossible without sophisticated tools. These early tools highlight not just physical progress, but also provide a new ground of moral and political decision-making -- such as social contract theory -- which would only continue to develop after the Epic of Gilgamesh. Consider, too, how the "great ideas" were fostered by new capabilities -- the rationalism of Rene Descartes was made stronger by an ability to measure and observe the world, while virtue ethics, and especially virtue signaling, have become so pervasive in modern digital landscapes.
The evolution of tools mirrors the trajectory of civilization itself as we see its use in existentialism. From the Bronze Age saw to the printing press to the silicon chip, innovation has consistently reshaped human society. The astrolabe revolutionized navigation, as did the telescope which challenged our anthropocentric worldview. Each advancement has brought not only progress and efficiency, but also ethical dilemmas. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein serves as a cautionary tale about the unchecked power of technological ambition and how it relates to existential crisis and morality. Throughout time, we find more and more connections to tools and concepts of the is-ought problem. Consider the paradox of hedonism and how the invention of a tool may offer increased access to pleasure but paradoxically fails to deliver happiness. Such a tool is especially relevant to experiments in ethics like the trolley problem variations, giving us new insight into the nature of moral luck and the possibility of moral cognitivism vs non-cognitivism. Moral philosophy itself continues to be challenged by new tools of the day -- and by our new ability to experiment in philosophy -- as experimental philosophy takes hold to challenge issues in cultural relativism and non-cognitivism in ethics.
Tools remain essential to both human endeavors and modern discourse, even implicating our understanding of bioethics and autonomy. The tools of today -- like AI, machine learning, and code that might give rise to sentience -- bring a continuing mystique, a reflection on our moral obligations in AI, and our ability to tackle disinformation safely. What moral imperatives will future tools demand of us? Are we – or have we already become – mere tools ourselves, extensions of our own creations? The ongoing exploration of tools is also the exploration of ourselves.