Product Description

"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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #159436 in Books
• Published on: 2006-12-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 174 pages

About the Author
Paul Virilio was born in Paris in 1932 to an immigrant Italian family. Trained as an urban planner, he became the director of the Ecole Speciale d'Architecture in the wake of the 1968 rebellion. He has published 25 books, including Pure War (1988) with Sylvere Lotringer (his first in English) and The Accident of Art (2005), both published by Semiotext(e).