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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... permanent poliorcetic historical mission ( conducting or resisting sieges ) , and their movements are governed by the immobile surfaces of city , resolved in a suspended state of soft siege . This slow , permanent war is itself a ...
... permanent presence in the sea of an invisible fleet able to strike no matter where and no matter when , annihilating the enemy's will to power by creating a global zone of insecurity in which it will no longer be able to “ decide ” with ...
... permanent and total , engendered one of the first mass mobilizations , the perspective of total warfare on the continent , as early as in 1914 , obviously requires a new social project , an original type of proletarianization ...
Contents
THE DROMOCRATIC REVOLUTION | 27 |
From Highway Right to State Right | 49 |
Practical War | 73 |
Copyright | |
4 other sections not shown