ABSTRACT

Paul Virilio is a challenging and original thinker whose work on technology, state power and war is increasingly relevant today. Exploring Virilio's main texts from their political and historical contexts, and case studies from contemporary culture and media in order to explain his philosophical concepts, Ian James introduces the key themes in Virlio's work, including:

  • speed
  • virtualization
  • war
  • politics
  • art.

As technological and scientific innovations continue to set the agenda for the present and future development of culture, communications, international economy, military intervention and diverse forms of political organization, Virilio's unique theoretical and critical insights are of enormous value and importance for anyone wishing to understand the nature of modern culture and society.

chapter |6 pages

Why Virilio?

part |120 pages

Key Ideas

chapter 1|19 pages

The Politics of Perception

Phenomenology, form and the interstices of vision

chapter 2|15 pages

Speed

Dromology, speed-space and light-time

chapter 3|22 pages

Virtualization

Vehicles, vision machines and virtual presence

chapter 4|22 pages

War

Bunkers, pure war and the fourth front

chapter 5|17 pages

Politics

Political space and political time

chapter 6|13 pages

Art

The accident of art

chapter |6 pages

After Virilio