Martin Heidegger

Martin Heidegger was a German philosopher, with a particular interest in phenomenology and hermeneutics, that Mike Brack was "keen on". Heidegger, according to Brack, thought society was becoming cybernetic, that efficiency was the goal, not pleasure. People ate and exercised for health and nothing else. Heidegger predicted it getting worse, that an even darker age would shadow humanity. (PROSE: Iceberg)

Behind the scenes
Heidegger's teachings are used in the novel as an analogy to Cybermen and their ultimate aim of perfection, never feeling any emotions.