Vilém Flusser

Vilem Flusser was one of the most fascinating and original European thinkers of the late twentieth century. In this collection of his essays on emigration, nationalism, and information theory, he raises questions about the viability of ideas of national identity in a world whose borders are becoming increasingly arbitrary and permeable. Flusser argues that modern societies are in flux, with traditional linear and textual epistemologies being challenged by global circulatory networks and a growth in visual stimulation. Beyond globalization, Flusser's ideas about communication and identity are rooted in the Judeo-Christian concept of self-determination and self-realization through recognition of the other.

"Poised between hope and despair for a humanity facing an urgent communication crisis, this work by Vilém Flusser forecasts either the first truly human, infinitely creative society in history or a society of unbearable, oppressive sameness, locked in a pattern it cannot change. First published in German in 1985 and now available in English for the first time, Into the Universe of Technical Images outlines the history of communication technology as a process of increasing abstraction. Flusser charts how communication evolved from direct interaction with the world to mediation through various technologies. The invention of writing marked one significant shift; the invention of photography marked another, heralding the current age of the technical image. The automation of the processing of technical images carries both promise and threat: the promise of freeing humans to play and invent and the threat for networks of automation to proceed independently of humans."--Publisher.

"Vampyroteuthis Infernalis: A Treatise" by Vilém Flusser is a fascinating exploration that blurs the boundaries between science, philosophy, and fable. Flusser ponders the human condition while examining the enigmatic "vampire squid from hell." This work offers a unique posthumanist perspective on phenomenology and opens the way for a nonphilosophy of life. It's both inquisitive and whimsical, combining the best work of Flusser and Louis Bec. If you're curious about animal cognition, philosophy, and art, this classic treatise is worth exploring¹. 🦑 Sources (1) Vampyroteuthis Infernalis — University of Minnesota Press. (2) Flusser’s Vampyroteuthis Infernalis. (3) Vampyroteuthis Infernalis: A Treatise, with a Report by the Institut ....