Abstract:

Introduction: Integration or separation inside the system of science. The roots of present accumulation of the technological development reach to the ancient philosophy and can be identified with the science development. But the classical understanding of technology stands in contrast with the present meaning with the unknown from the past process of life-technicality (G. Böhme). At the beginning of 21st century technology is the major challenge for humanity (A.J. Toynbee). From the other side there appears the phenomenon of artificial nature as a new paradigm with the obliteration of distinctions between nature, culture and technology. Nowadays the virtual literary figure of pygmalion becomes our reality.

Unity and plurality of culture. It seems, that it is indispensable to consider the cross-cultural facts in the present process of socialization and inculturation. If we have to do with the clash of civilizations (S.P. Huntington) or sooner with the overlapping of the different spaces (J. Urry, M. Löw) and new configurations of social life (N. Elias); with the process of permanent new-structuration and searching for identity in modern/postmodern society (A. Giddens) on the one and the permanent process on becoming of society and searching for social trust (P. Sztompka) on the other hand. And that means finally the question about the moral aspects of technology development. Means technology curse, blessing or our responsability? (A. Hilckman)

Humanities and Technologies. Nowadays the technologies just delimit possibilities of human development and that means disturbing doubts, whether it is progress or regress? The expression of this is the growing tension and even separation between humanities and technologies inside the system of science (p.ex. concerning professional ethics). Therefore it is necessary to analyse relations between humanities and engineering science. The leitmotif of this is inter- and multidisciplinarity as the basic paradigm and method on the point of junction between humanities and technologies. The main task remains to elaborate an integrated model of science as space of cooperation and complementarity of humanities and technologies. An anticipation of modern multidisciplinar conception of science we find in Renaissance with the artes liberales.

Configurations: Tensions and Convergences. The analysis included also the new tasks. At first it is the recognition of historical roots of the present technological civilization. Secondly it is necessary to elaborate adequate to the development of technology practical attitudes towards technology, culture and nature. That means the new configurations of strategies which involved the both mainstreams of the science and even all the tensions and convergences. The new configurations of research pose the question about relations between humanities and technologies – together or against, complementar and integrated or separated and divided – as for research, teaching and system of high education.

Application: Programme for staff mobility. As an example can serve here the transnational project of cooperation between Technology University Wroclaw (Poland), Technische Universität Dresden (Germany) and Lviv Polytechnic National University (Ukraine). It is a staff mobility project which is based on transcultural and transdisciplinar programmes in research and teaching.