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Techne: In ancient philosophy, "techne" (τέχνη) refers to a term encompassing craftsmanship, art, and skill. It denotes practical knowledge and expertise in producing or creating something. See also Ancient Philosophy, Knowledge.
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Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments.

 
Author Concept Summary/Quotes Sources

Plato on Techne - Dictionary of Arguments

Gadamer I 320
Techne/Plato/Gadamer: (...) Leadership of action through knowledge is present above all and in an exemplary way where the Greeks speak of "techne". This is the skill, the knowledge of the craftsman who knows how to produce certain things. The question is whether moral knowledge is also a knowledge of this kind. That would mean that it is a knowledge of how to make oneself (i.e. "built onself"). Should a person learn to make him- or herself what he or she should be, just as the craftsman learns to make what should be according to his or her plan and will? Does the person design him- or herself to the "Eidos" of him- or herself, as the craftsman carries within him- or herself an "Eidos" of what he or she wants to make, and knows how to represent it in the material?
>Knowledge/Plato
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As is well known, Socrates and Plato did indeed apply the concept of techne to the concept of human being.
Gadamer: (...) it cannot be denied that in doing so they revealed something true. The model of techne has an eminently critical function, at least in the political sphere, in that it exposes the groundlessness of what is called the art of politics and in which everyone is involved,
that is, every citizen, already well versed in politics. It is very significant that the knowledge of the craftsman is the only one of which Socrates, in his famous account of the experience he makes with his compatriots, acknowledges that it is real knowledge in his field(1). The craftsmen also disappoint him, of course. Their knowledge is not the true knowledge that constitutes the human and citizen as such. But it is real knowledge. It is a real art and skill and not simply a maximum of experience. In this it apparently coincides with the true moral knowledge that Socrates seeks. Both are prior knowledge and want to determine and guide an action. They must therefore contain within themselves the application of knowledge to the concrete task at hand. >Knowledge/Aristotle, >Ethics/Aristotle.


1. Plato, Apol. 22 cd.

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Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments
The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition.

Gadamer I
Hans-Georg Gadamer
Wahrheit und Methode. Grundzüge einer philosophischen Hermeneutik 7. durchgesehene Auflage Tübingen 1960/2010

Gadamer II
H. G. Gadamer
The Relevance of the Beautiful, London 1986
German Edition:
Die Aktualität des Schönen: Kunst als Spiel, Symbol und Fest Stuttgart 1977


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