A Phenomenological Approach to Urban Life: Gestell and the City

Author : Atilla Akalin

Abstract :Urban life evokes notions of comfort and convenience for many people. Therefore, cities are often seen as places where individuals can realize themselves in various ways. However, existentialist philosophical movements have addressed certain problematic aspects of urban existence. Through Martin Heidegger’s critique of Gestell and technology, the city can be interpreted not as a mere instrument for self-fulfillment but as a space that imposes its own rules and living practices upon individuals. In this context, Heidegger’s concept of fate (Geschick) within his critique of technology can be particularly examined. Urban life, rather than serving as an additional or alternative mode of existence, enforces certain practices upon individuals, making them essential aspects of modern living. This can be understood as the inevitable fate of urban existence. The emphasis on inevitability or universality found in the concept of topos within Kantian and post-Kantian German idealism becomes problematic when examined through Heidegger’s critique. From this perspective, the rigid structures of urban life, shaped by technological rationality, reinforce an inescapable framework that dictates human experience and reduces individual autonomy. In summary, this study emphasizes that cities should move beyond being mere spaces of functionality and instead be restructured as environments where individuals can preserve their existential meaning and cultivate a sense of belonging. Drawing from Heidegger’s ideas, this study critically examines the impact of urban life on human existence, questioning the deterministic and instrumentalist perspectives that often shape contemporary urban environments.

Keywords :Heidegger, Gestell, urban life, technology, phenomenology.

Conference Name :International Conference on Urban Sociology, Urbanization and Community (ICUSUC-25)

Conference Place Prague, Czech Republic

Conference Date 3rd Apr 2025