The dominant technocratic paradigm as ‘sin’ in our times

Abstract

Genesis speaks of a Fall, and such Fall has been interpreted by many Church Fathers. This led to the notions of ancestral sin on the Eastern side and original sin (highly influenced by Augustine) on the Western side. This Catholic, Augustinian framework of original sin has been challenged in some of its principles. An alternative rendering comes from Teilhard’s evolutive and Christocentric outlook, which opens to a re-reading of the general framework of the doctrine. Another re-conceptualisation stems from the concept of ‘sin of the world’ as presented by Schoonenberg. The notion of ‘death,’ a side-effect of the Fall, can be interpreted in terms of structural sin and the sin of the world. Maximus the Confessor proposes that original sin is not only about pathos but also includes techne. He presents a theological-anthropological understanding of techne within the context of the Fall. Considering humankind’s role as co-creator, this can be expressed in terms of relationality where techne occupies an important role. There is the possibility that techne could be a way of ‘death’ and original sin manifested as the dominant technocratic paradigm. One notes the enhancement of techne within a culture, with the resultant effect of the permeation of the paradigm within society at large. The ‘sin of the world’ is manifested in culture, and culture is mediated by techne. Within the development of a culture, sin takes its time to grow and manifest itself. As Guardini indicates, techne becomes powerful and eventually gains dominance. The principles presented in Laudato Si’ – within the notion of integral ecology – are analysed and mapped within the humus of the dominant technocratic paradigm and instances of structural sin and ‘sin of the world.’ The dominant technocratic paradigm is the manifestation of ‘sin of the world’ today, after sin grew and developed within culture through the ‘garment of skin’ that is techne. This is the claim presented by Bulgakov and Guardini, and Taylor embedding it in cultural terms. A broad aim of this dissertation is to explore how the dominant technocratic paradigm can be seen as original sin in our technological context. But as Pope Francis proposes, there are ways towards healing and conversion.