Tenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

This paper offers an analysis and interpretation of William Desmond’s account of use. I begin with an examination of Martin Heidegger and Michel Henry, focusing on their analysis of technology. I affirm their different but related analyses and critiques of modern technology and how technology shapes human interaction with the material world, but point out inadequacies in their positions. I then turn to Desmond as a clear and thorough account of use, grounded in a robust metaphysics which offers resources both of critique of problematic use, but also an approach for redeeming use. For Desmond, we cannot but use things. Use is always subtended by a prior gift of things before they are made useful for us. However, we are always tempted to neglect this dimension of gift and make everything useful without recognition of this gifting source (for Desmond, this source is God). When everything is made useful without reference to gift, we become implicated in what Desmond calls the “network of serviceable disposability.” This network is pernicious and brings everything into its abusive orbit. Desmond provides resources for expanding beyond the network. Use is a term which should, for Desmond, be suspended between two poles: thankfulness for the gift which is used, and love oriented towards an end beyond use. Both the gift and the end are, ultimately, God. I conclude the paper with practical suggestions for applying Desmond’s ethic and metaphysics of use to particular religious communities faced with the challenge of the network of serviceable disposability.