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From the Golem to Freedom

A Study on Technology and Religion

Gábor L. Ambrus (Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic)

$170

Hardback

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English
Bloomsbury Academic
08 February 2024
With a particular focus on social media, Gábor L. Ambrus explores how human beings relate to contemporary information technology. Ambrus argues that religious traditions – such as Judaism and Christianity, as well as secular philosophical thought inspired by religion – can be invoked to describe both the freedom and ‘unfreedom’ of the user of information technology.

To illustrate how individuals relate to technology in a restricted and totalitarian online environment, Ambrus adopts the figure and legend of the golem from Jewish mysticism. At the same time, his argument features other religious concepts and themes to describe an alternative to our present predicament of ‘unfreedom’, while not seeking to portray any ‘redemption’ outside the technological environment.

At the core of his argument, Ambrus presents the experience of nothingness as a source of freedom, opening up the possibility for a free relationship for us all with information technology.

By:  
Imprint:   Bloomsbury Academic
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Dimensions:   Height: 234mm,  Width: 156mm, 
ISBN:   9781350361270
ISBN 10:   1350361275
Pages:   224
Publication Date:  
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
1. Techno-Religion 2. Totalitarianism 3. Mastery and Slavery 4. The Golem 5. The Vicissitudes of Attention 6. Self-Expression and the Struggle for Recognition 7. The Dialectic of Self-Expression 8. Transgression and Limitation 9. Nihilism and Nothingness 10. God’s Nothingness 11.Vita Activa and the Will 12. Contemplation and Entertainment 13. The Doppelgänger 14. The Cyber-Kafkaesque 15. The Diagrams of the Ego 16. Freedom Conclusion Index Bibliography

Gábor L. Ambrus is Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Charles University, Czech Republic

Reviews for From the Golem to Freedom: A Study on Technology and Religion

This is a rich philosophical discussion of the religious ‘spell’ of contemporary information technology that includes a powerful political analysis: as users of technology we are locked into a ‘dialectic of unfreedom’ with our golem slave technologies … Highly recommended reading for anyone willing to look further than the one-liners of tabloid AI ethics. * Mark Coeckelbergh, University of Vienna, Austria * This is an important contribution to the field and a topical resource as we learn to cope with the massive challenges presented by social media and other forms on Internet-based technology. * Christopher B. Barnett, Villanova University, USA * In an age overflowing with information and deeply rooted in technology, the author courageously delves into the intricate ties between technology, religion, and the core of human existence. By closely scrutinizing the crossroads of technological breakthroughs and their role in our lives, this book provides readers with not just a mirror to our present situation, but also a deep journey into age-old wisdoms and their significance in our modern, tech-centric world. * L. M. Possati, postdoctoral researcher, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands *


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