Speed and Politics, new editionWith this book Paul Virilio inaugurated the new science whose object of study is the "dromocratic" revolution. Speed and Politics (first published in France in 1977) is the matrix of Virilio's entire work. Building on the works of Morand, Marinetti, and McLuhan, Virilio presents a vision more radically political than that of any of his French contemporaries: speed as the engine of destruction. Speed and Politics presents a topological account of the entire history of humanity, honing in on the technological advances made possible through the militarization of society. Paralleling Heidegger's account of technology, Virilio's vision sees speed—not class or wealth—as the primary force shaping civilization. In this "technical vitalism," multiple projectiles—inert fortresses and bunkers, the "metabolic bodies" of soldiers, transport vessels, and now information and computer technology—are launched in a permanent assault on the world and on human nature. Written at a lightning-fast pace, Virilio's landmark book is a split-second, overwhelming look at how humanity's motivity has shaped the way we function today, and what might come of it. |
From inside the book
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... mean first and foremost to decelerate , to defuse the race toward the end . Any treaty that does not limit the speed ... means that alone still allows us to gain fractions of seconds , which gain is indispensable to any freedom of action ...
... means of communicating destruction while lengthening their reach , the higher speed of these means would already have reduced the time of decision about their use to nothing . Just as in 1972 , in Moscow , the partners in this game ...
... means of destruction without end . We have proven ourselves , on the other hand , not only quite incapable of destroying those we've already produced ( the “ waste products " of the military industry being as hard to recycle as those of ...
Contents
THE DROMOCRATIC REVOLUTION | 27 |
From Highway Right to State Right | 49 |
Practical War | 73 |
Copyright | |
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