technê

Technê (Greek τεχνή) denotes craft, art, skill, or technique; it is a body of knowledge that governs the making of things and the application of methods within a craft. In classical Greek, it often implies both the know-how and the end product. The term is the root of the English words technique and technology.

In ancient philosophy, techne is contrasted with epistēmē (scientific, theoretical knowledge). It designates a systematic, teachable body of knowledge used to produce a determinate result. It is not mere natural talent but something that can be learned and passed on.

Aristotle treats techne as a distinct kind of knowledge that yields a product and has universal principles. It is applied to crafts and arts such as carpentry, medicine, music, and geometry; it requires demonstration and rational instruction, unlike purely artisanal skill in common usage. Techne is thus the knowing how to bring about a determined end under a rule.

In later Greek and medieval thought, techne is linked to ars in Latin and to the broad notion of arts and crafts. The term extends into scholastic discussions of how techniques and sciences are organized, and how practical knowledge relates to theoretical knowledge.

In modern usage, techne provides the etymological core of words like technique and technology. It is often used to analyze the difference between practical know-how and theoretical understanding, and remains a key concept in the philosophy of craft, art, and engineering.