"My only enemies are those who destroy without creating themselves."

A fine quote by Nietzsche and one could argue he tried to live his life by it, but what of the great idols of E-mail. Have they destroyed without creating themselves? Is Nietzsche friend or foe of this technology? Would Nietzsche support E-mail on the basis of the above quote?

E-mail has, of course, destroyed much of our personal physical communication. My boss is in the next cubicle. Yet, instead of peaking my head over the partition I simply send an E-mail. "Hi. How about a raise?" My boss then in turn does not transverse the 8 feet to my workman's cell, but instead sends a reply E-mail. "Hi. Hell no." And with that simple exchange of electrons we have completed a conversation with neither of us having to see, touch, taste, feel, or smell the other one. The possibility for physical attunement has been cut off at the knees. It may have been the case, while highly unlikely, that upon seeing my yearning smile and feeling my commitment vibe to the job, my boss would have given me the raise if proposed in a personal encounter. Instead, human communication through body language, physical nuance, and subconscious observation has been destroyed. I no longer plead my case nor interpret another's claim through all my senses, but analysis and argue only in a world of refined words. My body, as human, has been lost in communication. Creation, however, was not left behind.

I am but a squirrelly, cowardly man, though I do feel I need a raise, being the commie sympathizer my parents taught me to be. I cannot engage my behemoth of a boss in face-to-face discourse, as I will weaken at the knees and stutter gibberish out of my mouth in front of his imposing demeanor. E-mail is a salvation. Now the ability exists to write what I want to say, edit it 30 times, refine it 20 more times and then with confidence simply hit send. This allows me to pursue my goals. Electronic mail has opened new doors for me that in an electron-less society would have been locked or heavily barricaded. New dynamics in the workplace have emerged that can free thousands of shy people from ever having to interact with anybody again. They can simply remain physically isolated while socially integrated through the use of their computer screens and electronic mail. Commentary on whether this is healthy or not can be left to the modernists and the do-gooders. What Nietzsche wants to establish is whether this destruction has a companion. It does.

Through E-mail, communication has been accepted on a regular basis without any need for physical interaction and hence has affected many people who would be restricted in an environment where actual contact is required. This truly is a creation worthy of a child. The initial conditions are satisfied. E-mail has destroyed aspects of our life, but in the process it has created a new sphere of influence. Nietzsche, being one of history's most complex and vague philosophers, no doubt would have had intellectual problems with E-mail for a multitude of other reasons (like his inability to sit still). In this specific context however, I believe he would have been supportive. E-mail is not his enemy for it has created.

NEXT MONTH: I Scanned a Document Today, or Maybe it was Yesterday

Copyright © 1999 Charles Frey

Charles Hageman Frey is a student of philosophy and science living in Washington, D.C. Check out some of his recommended links by philosophers who have taken a look at the question of technology and the advancement of society. Media determinism in Cyberspace: http://www.regent.edu/acad/schcom/rojc/mdic/md.html Everything Nietzsche: http://infonectar.com/nietzsche/aphorismnoframe.html Books about Heidegger and Technology: http://www.webcom.com/paf/hb/hbtech.html Questions concerning music technology from Heidegger to Feenberg: http://cadre.sjsu.edu/switch/sound/articles/discipio_intro.html