Freedom and Technology (Planned book)
Reconstruction of the book
General thesis
“The thesis of the book is that in our Complex technological civilization there is inherent a basic loss of freedom, not of a legal or political but of an operational nature, which goes to the roots of the metaphysics of everyday life. Here lie the roots of our moral disorientation which leaves us helpless in the face of the portent of science, technology of the reality of society we gain is real. This is the meaning of maturity. (The last paragraphs of the "Great Transformation” spoke of three revelations, but the thought was the same).”
Chapters
Introduction
Why? -
Content - “The introduction would start from technology but would instantly proceed to the idea that adjustment to this involves reshaping human consciousness. The moral part is introduced by our criticism of the market.”[1]
(1.) The discovery of society / The social discontent
Why? -
Content -
2. The young Hegel
Why? - “Chapter Two (…is) still to be written. [It is] about (Chp. 2) the young Hegel.”[2]
3. The young Marx
Why? - “Chapter Three (…is) still to be written. [It is] about (…) the young Marx (Chp. 3)”[3]
4. On post-existentialist thought
Why? - “…there ought to be a Chapter Four: On post-existentialist thought.”[4]
Content - …Research proved lengthy and difficult on account of the tortuous French. However, the paradox of Pasternak might offer a key to that of Sartre - both are noble representatives of a counter-revolutionary era, reactions to a barebones rationalism of the Fascist and Bolshevik holocaust. My wife remarked that Pasternak's gripping lyricism is a direct descendant of Jens Peter Jacobsen, the Danish poet (1885 ), and added: - but so is Sartre of Kierkegaard (1855 ), of course. In this light French existentialism (like Pasternak) provokes a next step. In practical terms this means that my positive thoughts on freedom may be easier to present in the face of Sartre: Pasternak than of Sartre alone.[5]
(5.) Robert Owen
Why? - “The Owen chapter reflects his magic ease of writing. Our analysis of Owen's “second plans” (p. 22) and their interpretation (pp. 24-5) is new: hitherto these plans were ignored since they were as impraticable as the first. Actually they are of the very greatest interest for the understanding of Robert Owen's genius.”[6]
(6.) George Bernard Shaw
Why? - [7]
Contract
Text in English to type
Text Informations
Reference:
Date: 1957-1958
KPA: 38/13 (contracts, 10 p.)
Other Languages:
| Lge | Name |
|---|---|
| DE | |
| FR |
See also
For the book
In Abraham Rotstein's “Week-end Notes”:
- On a book called Freedom and Technology: IX, (2) XVII, (3) XIX, (4) XX, (5) XXI, (6) XXII, (7) XXIII, (8) XXIV
- Freedom and Technology - General Comments: XI, (2) XII, (3) XIII, (4) XIV, (5) XV
- Introduction to Freedom and Technology: XII
The Speech
References
- ↑ Weekend Notes XXII, 45
- ↑ See. To Thomas A. Bledsoe (3 January 1959), 11.
- ↑ See. To Thomas A. Bledsoe (3 January 1959), 11.
- ↑ See. To Thomas A. Bledsoe (3 January 1959), 11.
- ↑ See. To Thomas A. Bledsoe (3 January 1959), 11.
- ↑ See. To Thomas A. Bledsoe (3 January 1959), 12.
- ↑ See. “Weekend Notes” XXII