Time is the accident to end all accidents - Epicurus
Virilio begins by explaining how time, space and to a certain extent light have set a new benchmark for telecommunication. Ultimately, his meaning is that geophysical space is not not significant in the presence of telecommunication technology that can allow us to exist in a digital space at near real time. Interestingly, he points out how the speed of light is now the benchmark for “real” time. It is fascinating to hear in the news about how the scientists at CERN have (allegedly?) found electrinos that are capable of moving faster than the speed of light. I’d be interested to hear what Virilio’s thoughts were on “real-time” in the age of particles faster than the speed of light. I expect that this can lead for discussions of communication faster than one can see? Fascinating stuff to think about.
Building on the notion of space and time causing distance to be (nearly) irrelevant Virilio introduces the notion of dromology. Basically, dromology applies the ideas of space and time that Virilio bases much of this book on to a study of ecology. Peguy makes an interesting claim when he discusses the idea that “there is no history, but only a public duration” (23). This is a perfect seguay into a discussion of the rhythms of life and art. I expect that much of what we call reality is a process of rhythm. Rhythms of materials moving and suspended to and by this rhythm. In addition to the material, much of life is the “crazy-random-happen-stances”(Dr. Horrible) that are the meat of life. Things come and things go. History is our ability to remember and record these happenings. But, what happens to this history when the speed of happenings becomes so fast that we are unable to record that which happens.
One question, when space no longer matters and the world is moving at the speed of radio waves will the world be smaller or larger? Fusan suggests that the world is becoming more conformed. I’ve always thought of the Internet as a space that allowed unparallelled creativity (largely, because it allows for the perception of anonymity or solitude). But, does no the real world allow for creativity as well? Perhaps, but maybe not as easily as the ‘net. We are after all programmed to survive by not over exerting ourselves and doing risk analysis (fight or flight) on just about everything (at some level). Given those things it is perhaps easier for us to engage in activity using the super speed of the Internet, but is it anymore fulfilling (or perhaps less so) than doing something with Y/Our hands.
As Virilio begins to question how we can “live if there is no more here and if everything is now?”(37) I began to question his claims. At some point in most every argument that is presented to me I step back and examine the claims within the greater scope of my world view and not simply based on the constructs from which these claims are generated. At this point I’m starting to feel like he is getting to the farthest possible logical conclusion from his (somewhat lofty) argument. This is a good thing.
Part two
The second section of the book begins with a frightening discussion of micro machines. Virilio states that at some point in the future we will become a training ground of micro-machines. :Creepy:. I come back to this idea when Virlio begins discussing the idea of the teledildonic accoutrement's used for coitus. Micromacines, space, time, closeness. Virilio applies all of these to reproduction and the phenomena that surround it. Particularly he points out the ideas of genetic engineering and how these are causing rifts in the conjugal plane.
I synthesize all of these things down to the idea that Virilio would have us (the world) caution ourselves against the acceleration of things. It seems wise, as a society, to take a step back and to consider the possible ramifications of our actions. Like so many cyborgs, we (seem) to be heading towards a life/space/place of instant gratification. Soon enough it seems that we will no longer be able to (or indeed have need) to wait on anything. It has long been my thought that most things worth doing are both hard and take some time. With these things in mind, if we do continue to accelerate and stay on this trajectory the future will (almost certainly) look much different than it does now. So, looking out the world before us is an open sky and the horizon is probably not the limit. In fact, the horizon is probably irrelevant given the relative non-importance of space and time so that we can in fact “fall upwards” (3).
How might Virilio react to the information that CERN has found something (allegedly) capable of moving faster than the speed of light?
How can we live if there is no more here and only now?
Virilio begins by explaining how time, space and to a certain extent light have set a new benchmark for telecommunication. Ultimately, his meaning is that geophysical space is not not significant in the presence of telecommunication technology that can allow us to exist in a digital space at near real time. Interestingly, he points out how the speed of light is now the benchmark for “real” time. It is fascinating to hear in the news about how the scientists at CERN have (allegedly?) found electrinos that are capable of moving faster than the speed of light. I’d be interested to hear what Virilio’s thoughts were on “real-time” in the age of particles faster than the speed of light. I expect that this can lead for discussions of communication faster than one can see? Fascinating stuff to think about.
Building on the notion of space and time causing distance to be (nearly) irrelevant Virilio introduces the notion of dromology. Basically, dromology applies the ideas of space and time that Virilio bases much of this book on to a study of ecology. Peguy makes an interesting claim when he discusses the idea that “there is no history, but only a public duration” (23). This is a perfect seguay into a discussion of the rhythms of life and art. I expect that much of what we call reality is a process of rhythm. Rhythms of materials moving and suspended to and by this rhythm. In addition to the material, much of life is the “crazy-random-happen-stances”(Dr. Horrible) that are the meat of life. Things come and things go. History is our ability to remember and record these happenings. But, what happens to this history when the speed of happenings becomes so fast that we are unable to record that which happens.
One question, when space no longer matters and the world is moving at the speed of radio waves will the world be smaller or larger? Fusan suggests that the world is becoming more conformed. I’ve always thought of the Internet as a space that allowed unparallelled creativity (largely, because it allows for the perception of anonymity or solitude). But, does no the real world allow for creativity as well? Perhaps, but maybe not as easily as the ‘net. We are after all programmed to survive by not over exerting ourselves and doing risk analysis (fight or flight) on just about everything (at some level). Given those things it is perhaps easier for us to engage in activity using the super speed of the Internet, but is it anymore fulfilling (or perhaps less so) than doing something with Y/Our hands.
As Virilio begins to question how we can “live if there is no more here and if everything is now?”(37) I began to question his claims. At some point in most every argument that is presented to me I step back and examine the claims within the greater scope of my world view and not simply based on the constructs from which these claims are generated. At this point I’m starting to feel like he is getting to the farthest possible logical conclusion from his (somewhat lofty) argument. This is a good thing.
Part two
The second section of the book begins with a frightening discussion of micro machines. Virilio states that at some point in the future we will become a training ground of micro-machines. :Creepy:. I come back to this idea when Virlio begins discussing the idea of the teledildonic accoutrement's used for coitus. Micromacines, space, time, closeness. Virilio applies all of these to reproduction and the phenomena that surround it. Particularly he points out the ideas of genetic engineering and how these are causing rifts in the conjugal plane.
I synthesize all of these things down to the idea that Virilio would have us (the world) caution ourselves against the acceleration of things. It seems wise, as a society, to take a step back and to consider the possible ramifications of our actions. Like so many cyborgs, we (seem) to be heading towards a life/space/place of instant gratification. Soon enough it seems that we will no longer be able to (or indeed have need) to wait on anything. It has long been my thought that most things worth doing are both hard and take some time. With these things in mind, if we do continue to accelerate and stay on this trajectory the future will (almost certainly) look much different than it does now. So, looking out the world before us is an open sky and the horizon is probably not the limit. In fact, the horizon is probably irrelevant given the relative non-importance of space and time so that we can in fact “fall upwards” (3).
How might Virilio react to the information that CERN has found something (allegedly) capable of moving faster than the speed of light?
How can we live if there is no more here and only now?
