Probable Alternative Philosophical Foundations Determining the Understanding of the Essence of Technology

The article attempts to indicate the importance of defining philosophical foundations (ideas, principles) and approaches that presumably contribute to the formation of objective, to a certain degree, understanding of the specifics of the authentic nature of technology, and also suggests a variant of establishing such foundations. To achieve this goal, a number of tasks are set. As a result of solving the tasks set, a hypothetical conclusion is made about the formation of two opposite philosophical foundations (and approaches), which, since Antiquity, have allowed for shaping alternative methodologies, with the help of which one or another understanding of the nature of properties is created, on the basis of which, presumably, the technology exists. As a result, the author assumes that there are two variants of the desired holistic philosophical foundations that arose in ancient Greek philosophy of the IV century BC. E., characterizing one or an other initial approach in determining the essence of technology, based on its source: ‘Platonic’ and ‘Aristotelian’. Each of these approaches which were expressed in general terms in the works of ancient Greek philosophers of the classical era – Plato and Aristotle is briefly characterized. The author also indicates the probably spontaneous, partial and simplistic application of the research logic (and its results) of both philosophers by many present-day scholars in the philosophical and technical literature. He assumes that there is still no satisfactory analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of these two alternatives – the points of view of Plato and Aristotle in discussing the essence of technology, as well as the degree of their possible complementarity.