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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... weapons would not be so fearsome . In the current context , to disarm would thus mean first and foremost to ... weapon's initial speed was such that one could see it on its trajectory and parry its effects with one's shield . But when ...
... weapons or of shooting off new ones has never been to kill the enemy or destroy his means , but to deter him , in ... weaponry in order to grasp the present logistical reality . As Sun The State of Emergency / 161.
... Weapons are tools of ill omen . " They are first feared and fear- some as threats , long before being used . Their " ominous " character can be split into three components : The threat of their performance at the moment of their ...
Contents
THE DROMOCRATIC REVOLUTION | 27 |
From Highway Right to State Right | 49 |
Practical War | 73 |
Copyright | |
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