Postphenomenological Methodologies: New Ways in Mediating Techno-Human Relationships(Postphenomenology and the Philosophy of Technology)

This edited volume is the first publication to tackle the issue of researching human-technology relations from a methodological postphenomenological perspective. While the ‘traditional’ phenomenology of the 20th century, with figures like Husserl, Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty, provided valuable insights into the formal structures of essence, being and embodiment, etc. their mode of philosophizing mostly involved abstract ‘pure’ thinking. Although rooted in this tradition, the postphenomenological approach to the study of human-technology relations emphasizes the “empirical turn” and interdisciplinary work in the field of philosophy – and reaches out to other disciplines like anthropology, education, media studies, and science and technology studies (STS). The contributors discuss what it means for the field of postphenomenology to be empirically based and what kind of methodology is required in order for researchers to go out and study human-technology relations in this perspective. In many disciplines, methodology refers to the analytical approach taken – e.g. the analytical concepts you employ to make an analysis; in postphenomenology, these might include concepts such as multistability, variation, or mediation. In a discipline like anthropology, it also refers to reflections over the methods researchers use to approach an empirical field. Methods can include interviews of different kinds, participant observations, surveys, and auto-ethnography. Furthermore, methodology can include ethical issues tied to doing research in an empirical field. These practical aspects are not separate from, but rather connected to, theoretical approaches. This book ties together the methods, ethics, and theories of postphenomenology in a groundbreaking volume on methodology. With postphenomenological studies of education, digital media, biohacking, health, robotics, and skateboarding as points of reference, the authors of this volume, in twelve chapters, provide new perspectives on what a comprehensive postphenomenological research methodology must consist of.

Table of Contents:
Foreword – Don Ihde Introduction – Jesper Aagaard, Jan Kyrre Berg Friis, Oliver Tafdrup & Cathrine Hasse Part I: Educational Technologies Chapter 1: Doing Postphenomenology in Education – Catherine Adams and Joni Turville Chapter 2: Inviting and Interacting: Postphenomenology and the Microsociology of Education – Tobias Röhl Chapter 3: Entering the Portal: Media Technologies and Experiential Transportation – Jesper Aagaard Part II: Self-Tracking & Imaging Technologies Chapter 4: Human Technology Relationships in the Digital Age: The Collapse of Metaphore in Biohacking – Moa Petersén Chapter 5: Service Interfaces in Human Technology Relations: A Case Study of Self-Tracking Technologies – Fernando Secomandi Chapter 6: From Camera Obscura to fMRI: How Brain Imaging Technologies Mediate Free Will – Ciano Aydin Part III: Robotic Technologies Chapter 7: Paleoanthropology and Social Robotics: Old and New Ways in Mediating Alerity Relations – Michael Funk Chapter 8: Lost in Tra

About the Author :
Jesper Aagaard is assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Aarhus University. Jan Kyrre Berg Friis is course manager of theory of science at Copenhagen University. Jessica Sorenson is research assistant at the Future, Technology, Culture, and Learning program at Aarhus University. Oliver Tafdrup is doctoral fellow at the Future, Technology, Culture, and Learning program at Aarhus University. Cathrine Hasse is professor of cultural anthropology and learning at Aarhus University.

Review :
This book shows how postphenomenology can significantly contribute to understanding and engaging with many of the technologies shaping our contemporary society, i.e. robotics, self-tracking technologies and educational tools. Combining case studies with thorough methodological reflections, the authors seek to make their postphenomenological research transparent and valuable to other scholars wanting inspiration and hands-on insight on how to do postphenomenological research. The book will be helpful in extending the already strong research community of postphenomenology. This anthology offers a compelling review and critical assessment of the current state of play in postphenomenological methodology. This book is a must for anyone interested in human-technology relations. The most engaging texts present readers with the opportunity to learn and be inspired. This offering does just that. The edited volume connects with a wide range of scholars and disciplines to lay out a methodology and framework that invites participation in empirical postphenomenological research. Several clearly defined sections address a variety of technologies. Diverse and multidisciplinary ideas bring value and force to conversations around techno-human relations. This is a significant and well-written contribution to an ever-growing collection of literature on postphenomenology.