The role of philosophy in translators' response to automation

Abstract

Through the ages philosophy has been used as a tool for the understanding of all that pertains to life and how things hang together. Technology, a salient part of human life in the 21st century, has not been left out of these philosophical postulations. From the inception of the philosophy of technology two centuries ago philosophers have focused largely on defining the meaning of technology as well as its influence on society and culture. This outlook is called the humanities’ philosophy of technology. This paper is an attempt to analyse the role of philosophy in the response of translators to automation or technology in their career as well as its role in translator education. The humanities’ philosophy of technology is analysed here by comparing three schools of thought concerned with it: Rapp’s socio-physical impact approach, Wartofsky’s particularistic and social impact approach as well as Mitcham’s humanities’ approach.