Non-things: Upheaval in the Lifeworld

The infosphere, a constantly expanding "infosphere of information and communication," is replacing the terrestrial order and the world of things with a world of non-things. Byung-Chul Hans' critique of the infosphere highlights the price we are paying for our growing preoccupation with information and communication, such as searching for more information without gaining any real knowledge, communicating constantly without participating in a community, saving masses of data without keeping track of our memories, and accumulating friends and followers without encountering other people. This can lead to a form of life that has no stability or duration and cuts us off from the freedom that is tied to acting in the world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 110 pages
Publication date: 20 May 2022
Publisher: Polity Press

The shift from earthly existence to a digital realm has transformed our world. The tangible world is giving way to a non-physical realm, characterized by an ever-expanding "infosphere" of information and communication. This digital transformation is displacing objects and erasing any sense of stillness and calmness in our lives.

In his critique of the infosphere, Byung-Chul Hans emphasizes the detrimental consequences of our growing obsession with information and communication. We seek information without truly understanding it, engage in constant communication without participating in meaningful communities, store vast amounts of data without retaining memories, and accumulate friends and followers without encountering real human connections. This superficial engagement with information leads to the development of a form of life that lacks stability and duration. As we become increasingly immersed in the infosphere, we lose touch with the magic of the physical world, which provides a stable environment for human dwelling and fosters continuity in our lives.

While the infosphere may offer new freedoms, it also introduces new forms of control. It isolates us from the kind of freedom that comes from actively engaging with the world and interacting with others. This book, written by one of the most innovative cultural theorists of our time, will appeal to a broad readership interested in exploring the implications of this digital transformation.

Weight: 260g
Dimension: 146 x 216 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509551699