Resumen en español

In this paper, Ernst Cassirer's (1874-1945) and Hans Freyer's (1887-1969)interpretations of technology are presented, briefly compared and discussed. On the one side, Cassirer insisted, with his identification of technology as a symbolic form, on the necessary creative freedom for the development of culture and self-knowledge of man. On the other side,Freyer, from a neohegelian viewpoint, emphazised how the human spirit expresses himself in objective cultural forms, such as technology. The problem of the autonomy of technology or technological determinism is assessed within the philosophical framework of each author. Although neither Cassirer nor Freyer provide a final answer concerning that problem,it is possible to derive from both thinkers a strong defence of human autonomy and freedom in history.