Bioinformational Philosophy and Postdigital Knowledge Ecologies

The book explores new knowledge ecologies and philosophies that require a better understanding of living systems and their interactions with technology at all scales. It argues that the 20th-century focus on machinery needs to be replaced by a focus on living systems and their interactions with technology. The postdigital condition is defined by a curious bioinformational mix of blurred and messy relationships between physics and biology, old and new media, humanism and posthumanism, knowledge capitalism and bio-informational capitalism, and creates new knowledge ecologies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 350 pages
Publication date: 23 April 2023
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

The book delves into a comprehensive exploration of critical issues at the intersections of biology, information, and society. Drawing upon diverse theories such as bioinformationalism, viral modernity, the postdigital condition, and others, it poses two interconnected questions: Which new knowledge ecologies are emerging, and what philosophies and research approaches are necessary to support them?

The book argues that the traditional emphasis on machinery in the 20th century must be complemented, if not replaced, by a deeper understanding of living systems and their interactions with technology across various scales. This shift in focus requires a more holistic approach that transcends disciplinary boundaries. In the age of the Anthropocene, where human and planetary biology are intertwined with digital technology and society, a reimagining of our understanding is necessary.

The contemporary bioinformational landscape is characterized by a curious mix of blurred and messy relationships between physics and biology, old and new media, humanism and posthumanism, knowledge capitalism and bio-informational capitalism. These interconnections define the postdigital condition and give rise to new knowledge ecologies.

The book offers scholarly research that delineates these emerging knowledge ecologies, built upon emerging forms of scientific communication, the vast expanse of big data, and the opacity of algorithmic operations. These developments can be approached through the lens of viral modernity, which applies to viral technologies, codes, and ecosystems in information, publishing, education, and emerging knowledge systems.

Within the framework of these overlapping theories and contexts, the book explores new bioinformational philosophies and postdigital knowledge ecologies. It examines the implications of these developments for our understanding of knowledge, science, and society, and offers insights into the potential future of these fields.

Weight: 587g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030950088
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022