A reader of this blog commented that several posts (like this and this) addressing technology seemed influenced by Dr. Albert Borgmann, Regents Professor of Philosophy at the University of Montana. As Dr. Borgmann was my professor in 1999, it occurs to me that in the interest of citing my sources, a word could be said about this remarkable thinker.Like most of the scholars in Missoula, Dr. Borgmann could have taught at the world's best institutions, but selected "The U" for social or environmental reasons (Dr. Borgmann is an exceptional skier).
He is all at once brilliant, focused, humane, exceptionally clear and (though few students ever witness it) funny, compassionate and merciful. He gives every indication of loving his pupils, even when he's scaring them out of their German-fearing-minds.
He is known around the globe for several of his books. Perhaps the best known is "Crossing the Postmodern Divide", but in this area of technology and philosophy that I also find so interesting, he made his name with "Technology and the Character of Contemporary Life" back in 1984 (in recent years, he has gotten a lot of press for "Power Failure: Christianity in the Culture of Technology").
Reading one of his books is not a simple undertaking, but insightful, rewarding, and inspiring in many ways. To get a feel for his style, I suggest this article, or - if you have headphones (the quality is not so good) - this audio interview.
