Gabriel Tarde: The Future of the Artificial

Gabriel Tarde's book explores the core ideas of early sociologist Gabriel Tarde and suggests a new pathway for sociology based on his foundational work. It rejects anthropocentrism and highlights the contrast between the natural and the artificial, emphasizing the positive significance of the latter in an age of distrust. The book develops the concept of the cosmological imagination as the context for a critical Tardian analysis of artifice and its relevance for public debate in the digital age. It appeals to scholars of social and political theory with interests in our digital age, new sociologies of materials and objects, neomonadology, and the thought of Gabriel Tarde.

Format: Hardback
Length: 114 pages
Publication date: 10 June 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the profound ideas of early sociologist Gabriel Tarde, offering a fresh perspective on sociology. By rejecting anthropocentrism, Tarde emphasizes the contrast between the natural and the artificial, highlighting the positive significance of the latter in an age where people have grown to distrust it. Through a comprehensive analysis of Tarde's theory in the context of contemporary and classical scholarship, the book develops the concept of the cosmological imagination as a framework for a critical Tardian examination of artifice. By exploring the relationship between artifice and phenomena such as quantum physics and digital media, the book seeks to unite our knowledge about future-oriented global societies.

Tarde raises thought-provoking questions about our understanding of the universe, our position within it, the relationship between humans and other animals and objects, our global social structures, and our claims of power and privilege within it. He wonders whether a future characterized by constant artifice has become the norm for human existence. Considering our ambivalence towards modern products and modernity, our thoughts about the future, and our tendency to overlook the significance of nature in presenting problems beyond our control, such as illnesses and epidemics, Gabriel Tarde: The Future of the Artificial sheds light on why we need to revisit Tarde's work to rediscover its relevance for public debate as we navigate the new era and its societies, where culture and nature no longer exist as distinct entities.

This book will appeal to scholars of social and political theory with interests in the digital age, new sociologies of materials and objects, neomonadology, and the thought of Gabriel Tarde. It provides a valuable contribution to the field, offering insights into the complexities of our contemporary world and the potential for a renewed appreciation of Tarde's visionary ideas.

Weight: 400g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032012759