Lyotard and the Inhuman Condition: Reflections on Nihilism, Information and Art
Ashley Woodward
Abstract
This book offers an incisive argument for the contemporary importance of Lyotard in light of posthuman trends. Jean-Francois Lyotard was one of the leading French philosophers of his generation, whose wide ranging and highly original contributions to thought were overshadowed by his association with 'postmodernism.' This book demonstrates what a new generation of scholars are now discovering: that Lyotard's work is incisive and essential for current debates in the arts and humanities, especially those concerning the posthuman and the information society. The book presents a series of studies w ... More
This book offers an incisive argument for the contemporary importance of Lyotard in light of posthuman trends. Jean-Francois Lyotard was one of the leading French philosophers of his generation, whose wide ranging and highly original contributions to thought were overshadowed by his association with 'postmodernism.' This book demonstrates what a new generation of scholars are now discovering: that Lyotard's work is incisive and essential for current debates in the arts and humanities, especially those concerning the posthuman and the information society. The book presents a series of studies which explain Lyotard's specific interventions in areas such as information theory, new media arts, and the changing nature of the human, and assesses their relevance and impact. It brings to light new aspects of Lyotard’s work by focusing on underappreciated themes and connections, particularly around the topics of nihilism, information, and art. Lyotard's thought is positioned in current debates through critical comparisons with contemporary philosophers such as Paul Virilio, Bernard Stiegler, Luciano Floridi, and Ray Brassier.
Keywords:
Jean-François Lyotard,
Posthumanism,
Nihilism,
Information,
Art
Bibliographic Information
Print publication date: 2016 |
Print ISBN-13: 9780748697243 |
Published to Edinburgh Scholarship Online: January 2018 |
DOI:10.3366/edinburgh/9780748697243.001.0001 |