Poiesis (ποίησις) — “Making,” “creation,” “production” — the act of bringing into existence something that did not exist before. For Aristotle, poiesis encompasses arts and crafts: the architect makes houses, the physician restores health. It is distinguished from praxis (action that has its end within itself) and theoria (contemplation). Heidegger returns to it: originary poiesis is a “bringing-forth into presence,” an unconcealment of being — closer to artwork and artisanal craft than to modern technology.
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