Information Technology Talent: Growth Between Two Cultures

Author: Sun Lei / Zhou Lingbo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: In modern society, there are contradictions, conflicts, and isolation between science, technology, culture, and humanistic culture. Technical talents must strive to integrate these two cultures during their growth to avoid becoming "one-dimensional people" and to comprehensively shape themselves. This book thoroughly summarizes various social objective environments, individual subjective cultivation, and basic humanistic perspectives in the growth of IT talents, systematically analyzes the intrinsic humanistic cultural phenomena in information technology, and further proposes the specific characteristics and regularities of IT talents' growth between these two cultures. This book aims to be both accessible and profound, combining logical construction and deduction with numerous vivid case studies, making it a cutting-edge work in the field of technical talent studies. It is suitable as a foundational textbook for IT-related majors, a training manual for IT human resources, supplementary material for IT consultants, and a reference for various technical professionals and enthusiasts.
[Preface] Preface: The Poetic Growth of IT Talents If life were solely toil, one might ask the heavens: "Is what I seek too much to sustain me?" Yes. As long as goodness and purity remain with the human heart, one will joyfully measure oneself with divinity. Is divinity inscrutable and unknowable? Is divinity as clear as the blue sky? I prefer to believe in the latter. This is the measure of humanity. Humanity is filled with toil, yet it dwells poetically on this earth.
The above is the famous verse by H?lderlin. Heidegger explains the human condition through this poem, particularly the beautiful imagery of "humans dwelling poetically," to elaborate on the issue of humanity. Heidegger reflects deeply on technology, using this to articulate his understanding and conclusions about human existence, their grounding, their measure, and their ultimate destiny. This is the most "poetic" perspective on human existence under technological conditions.
Heidegger's concept of "dwelling" is particularly apt for understanding the growth of IT talents. According to societal perception, aren't IT talents the very embodiment of "dwelling poetically"? They master advanced technologies, speak of new theories, sit in modern offices, speak several languages, earn high salaries, dress impeccably, and drive luxurious cars—flying between cities, tired yet joyful. They are part of the so-called "white-collar" group, the dream of society, the poetry of the era. But is this truly the case?
When Heidegger analyzes H?lderlin's poem, he pays special attention to the phrase "dwelling poetically" followed by "on this earth." He explains that "poetically" is often misunderstood as ethereal or existing above reality. This is a misinterpretation. No matter how great one's achievements, humanity cannot soar above the earth or be detached from its constraints. Further, Heidegger states that it is poetry itself that first brings humans back to the earth, making them belong to it and thus enabling them to dwell. The "poetic dwelling" of IT talents that people observe is the result of their achievements, making others perceive them as elevated, above reality, at a height beyond ordinary reach. In reality, IT talents cannot and never have been separated from the earth.
What is "earth"? Heidegger says, the earth is humanity's grounding. Where do IT talents stand? They stand in all the elements of their growth environment. Growth is a common topic, one that occurs every day and throughout a lifetime. For IT talents, this topic is different from others, filled with freshness, specificity, and change. Many feelings are known only to those immersed in the experience—intangible, unspeakable, and not to be shared with outsiders, leading to misunderstandings about IT talents. More importantly, those immersed in the experience are often unaware of their grounding, their state of growth and existence, what they seek, or their value standards. In this case, both growth and existence lose their "poetic" quality.
IT talents stand in the distinctions between the concepts of information, the information society, and information technology. Without reflecting on these concepts, one cannot understand the unique essence within the hearts and veins of IT talents—what sets them apart from ordinary talents. This requires a panoramic view of the history of societal development, from which one can appreciate the societal waves before and after the emergence of IT talents, discerning what is meant by "the times create heroes" and "a great mission bestowed from heaven."
IT talents stand behind the complex phenomena of society, such as politics, economics, culture, and education. Without unraveling these complexities, it is difficult to see how the external environment affects IT talents and how they interact with it. Thus, it becomes challenging to explain why, in the same era and society, the growth of IT talents differs from others. This requires analyzing the microstructure of society, adopting an anatomical and detailed perspective to explore the social attributes of IT talents, and recognizing the difficulties of their growth, the rarity of their success, and the value of their achievement.
IT talents stand within their internal factors, including physical, psychological, cognitive, emotional, learning-oriented, and sustainable development aspects. Without introspection, one cannot understand how these intrinsic qualities are influenced by external factors, subtly shaping the growth of IT talents. This requires delving into the human psyche, observing the impact of humanistic care on growth, and realizing how, as we draw closer to technology, our bodies and minds drift farther from ourselves—a warning worth heeding!
IT talents stand within their perspectives. Growth is measured in time, but perspective is boundless, as the Buddha described it as the sands of the Ganges. As technical talents, one must have a broad humanistic perspective and a spacious heart. This requires stepping outside the trap of technology, observing it, reading it, analyzing it, and reflecting on it. From this, one will find that while technology is useful and beneficial in shaping people, it is often dry and lacks "poetry."
Therefore, it is imperative to call for the poetic growth of IT talents! The era and society have entrusted them with a magnificent endeavor—entrusting the future to them. This in itself is a beautiful thing. If those immersed in this experience lack composure, grandeur, beauty, or poetry, it shows they are not yet prepared. Only if they feel comfortable, inspired, and poetic during their growth can they truly stand on their grounding.
Reflect on Heidegger's words: "It is poetry that first brings humans back to the earth, making them belong to it, and thus enabling them to dwell." From this, remember: poetry is not the result of growth but the cause of it. Further, what is "poetry"? Heidegger describes it as a "measure," which is somewhat obscure. In this book, poetry is understood as a state of growth for IT talents. The quality of this state is evaluated differently by different people, or perhaps as a "measure," "poetry" may represent a state of perfection and health. The standard comes from two cultural systems: technical culture and humanistic culture. While they have many contradictions and conflicts, they are not irreconcilable. Relying on only one culture can establish certain standards, but only by intersecting the two can one come closest to the essence and realm of "poetry."
Each chapter of this book strives to interpret this concept, showing the nature of the "earth" on which IT talents stand and how they pursue a "poetic" growth between these two cultures. This presentation may be seen as too abstract by some, too concrete by others, too unfocused by some, or too literal by others. However, regardless of how one views it, it attempts to convey a beautiful aspiration: IT talents, grow poetically.