Günther Anders’ Undiscovered Critical Theory of Technology in the Age of Big Data Capitalism

Fuchs, Christian

doi:10.31269/triplec.v15i2.898

Cited by 15 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…A critical, dialectical theory of communication can draw on and start from this intellectual tradition. The methodological approach that the present author takes in this context is to make visible, engage with, draw on, start from, use, interpret, and further develop elements from often unknown, hidden, ignored, neglected, and forgotten Marxist‐humanist works (see Fuchs, 2016a, 2016b, 2016c, 2017a, 2017b, 2017d, 2018b, 2019a, 2019b, 2019c, 2020a, 2020c).…”

Section: Marxist Humanism Todaymentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a critical theory of communication as renewal and update of Marxist humanism in the age of digital capitalism

Fuchs

2020

J Theory Soc Behav

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper's task is to outline some foundations of a critical, Marxist‐humanist theory of communication in the age of digital capitalism. It theorises the role of communication in society, communication and alienation, communication in social struggles, social struggles for democratic communication, the contradictions of digital capitalism, and struggles for digital socialist humanism. Marxist humanism is a counter‐narrative, counter‐theory, and counter‐politics to neoliberalism, new authoritarianism, and postmodernism. A critical theory of communication can should draw on this intellectual tradition. Communication and work stand in a dialectical relationship. Communication mediates, organises and is the process of the production of sociality and therefore of the reproduction of society. Society and communication are in class and capitalist societies shaped by the antagonism between instrumental and co‐operative reason. Authoritarianism and humanism are two basic, antagonistic modes of organisation of society and communication. Instrumental reason creates and universalises alienation. Digital capitalism is a dimension of contemporary society where digital technologies such as the computer, the Internet, the mobile phone, tablets, robots, and AI‐driven (“smart”) technologies mediate the accumulation of capital, influence, and reputation. A Marxist‐humanist theory of communication aims to inform struggles for a good, commons‐based, public Internet in a good, commons‐based society that has a vivid, democratic public sphere.

show abstract

Section: Marxist Humanism Todaymentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a critical theory of communication as renewal and update of Marxist humanism in the age of digital capitalism

Fuchs

2020

J Theory Soc Behav

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Ferruccio Rossi-Land (1983) stressed the work-character of communication (see Fuchs 2016a, Chapter 6). Horst Holzer (1975, 30) stresses that "humans produce communicatively and communicate productively" (see Fuchs 2017a).…”

Section: Communication's Materiality: Dialectical Critical Communicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Big data creates new ethical problems because of algorithms that enable and conduct surveillance. Fuchs (2017a; argues that big data has emerged from the surveillanceindustrial complex that combines state surveillance and corporate surveillance of digital data and the Internet. Big data serves surveillance, surveillance serves capitalism.…”

Section: Marxist Communication Studies In the Age Of Digital Mediamentioning

confidence: 99%

Marx @ 200: Debating Capitalism & Perspectives for the Future of Radical Theory (combined PDF of all articles)

Fuchs

Monticelli²

2018

tripleC

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Big data creates new ethical problems because of algorithms that enable and conduct surveillance. Fuchs (2017a;2017b) argues that big data has emerged from the surveillanceindustrial complex that combines state surveillance and corporate surveillance of digital data and the Internet. Big data serves surveillance, surveillance serves capitalism.…”

Section: Marxist Communication Studies In the Age Of Digital Mediamentioning

confidence: 99%

An Analysis of Marx’s Legacy in the Field of Communication Studies

Kayihan

2018

tripleC

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

New communication technologies strengthen existing power relations, helping to maintain class inequalities and alienating people. In the new communication age, human subjectivity itself has become a commodity. This paper analyses the role of Marxist studies in the academic field of communication studies. It focuses on the relevance of Marx's views for understanding communication in the digital era, Marxist communication studies after the expansion of digital media, and new dimensions of communication that have been incorporated into Marxist literature. Topics that matter in this context include the intersection of play and work, media economics in the age of digital communication, digital labour, the online games industry, targeted advertising, newly emerging social inequalities, and surveillance and privacy issues. Also an outlook for potential future Marxist studies of communication is given.Keywords: communication studies, digital capitalism, digital media, Marx, Marxist studies Acknowledgement: The author thanks Christian Fuchs for his valuable suggestions and contributions.

show abstract

Günther Anders’ Undiscovered Critical Theory of Technology in the Age of Big Data Capitalism

Abstract: Günther Anders (1902Anders ( -1992 was an Austrian philosopher, critical theorist, political activist, and a writer of poems, short stories and novels. His works on the critical theory of technology have remained rather undiscovered. His main work Die Antiquiertheit des Menschen (The

Cited by 15 publications

References 7 publications

Towards a critical theory of communication as renewal and update of Marxist humanism in the age of digital capitalism

Towards a critical theory of communication as renewal and update of Marxist humanism in the age of digital capitalism

Marx @ 200: Debating Capitalism & Perspectives for the Future of Radical Theory (combined PDF of all articles)

An Analysis of Marx’s Legacy in the Field of Communication Studies

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About