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producers. In a way, we can say that their desire will be realized through positive
activities for making new things. Such activities may be called Technica Positiva. In
the old days, people were normally accustomed to making new products, even for
their own use. And technologists created new machines in this positive meaning.
By contrast, in the twenty-first century, we must think in terms of Technica
Negativa. Everything must be thrown away, thrown on the ground, after use:
unfortunately, these things will often not degrade or return to the natural system.
Waste will remain in the ground: this waste never fades nor becomes unified with
the eco-system. If machine components could be returned to pure materials, we
could use these materials again to realize new design by creating new machines.
And we know that natural resources are very limited. For example, mineral
resources on the earth are limited. We must think about an opposite or reversible
process in the domain of creative activities in the factory. We must not only aim at
recycling. Natural recycling must be reconceived in some sense, and we must give
back materials into eco-system of nature. Unfortunately, the recycling process,
which destroys and transforms used objects into different materials, often needs
more energy than productive, new processes in the factory.
Is it possible for new technology to create more effective design by not
recycling? Many questions arise.
(1) Are Technica Positiva and Technica Negativa contradictory concepts?
(2) If Technica Negativa is possible, it must be realized, like Technica Positiva, in
the technological conjuncture or cohesion. How should we do that?
(3) Is Technica Negativa only a theoretical concept and not a practical one?
I consider Technica Positiva and Technica Negativa to be contradictory concepts
not only in a theoretical sense but also in practice. Technica Negativa must be
realized in the technological conjuncture. Therefore, we must think about the
meaning of “Negation” or “Nothingness”.
It is not a question of an antagonistic negation of technica and technology or
technological sciences. In the medieval ages, we find the concept “theologia
negativa”, which constructs proof of divine existence—i.e., theologia negativa—
as a theology of what God is not and becomes, so to speak, the integrated meaning
of theology. On the other hand, Technica Negativa could construct an integrated
meaning of technology. Perhaps, we should speak about the grounding of this
negativity in a more profound nothingness. (cf. Imamichi
1968
)
10.5 Nothingness
According to Keys to the Japanese Heart and Soul (K¯dansya Bilingual Books
Fundamental Chinese Taoist concept, the term for absolute nonexistence, from which all
existence arises and to which mankind ultimately returns. The idea of nothingness
transcending ethics and politics was developed by Taoists critical of the Confucian
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