David Beatty – Kairos and the Double-Edged Sword of Techne. 22 March 2023

Whereas Chronos measures linear, sequential time, Kairos signifies turning points in history, times when it is important to recognise the issues and seize the important moment. Humankind is at such a pivotal turning point.

David Beatty’s talk begins with reference to Being and Time by Martin Heidegger and asks what it means to be present, questing, and open to reframing one’s life. Here in the 21st century our interdependence is enhanced by the Internet, which also has its dark side, placing too much emphasis on image and self-worth, while rapidly growing systems exert increasing control and surveillance—shades of George Orwell and Aldous Huxley.

Fascism and Communism were twentieth-century ideologies that demonstrably failed. Liberalism, the third ideology in disguise, has survived into the 21st century but, despite its apparent success, it too is doomed to failure because while promoting equal rights it nevertheless accentuates inequalities of wealth. Beatty makes substantial reference to Patrick J. Deneen’s book, Why Liberalism has failed (2019), to illustrate his arguments, and draws attention to several other works by seminal writers.

Techne, which originally referred to the embodied skills of the craftsman, has evolved into technology that has become increasingly dehumanising. Beatty emphasises the urgent need for re-evaluation and reconnection with the imaginal realm described by Henry Corbin, through the growth of inner wisdom and participatory knowing.

Report by Sue Lewis