First published in French as La Société automatique. 1. L’Avenir du travail, © Librairie Arthème Fayard, 2015
This English edition © Polity Press, 2016
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All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purpose of criticism and review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.
ISBN-13: 978-1-5095-0630-9
ISBN-13: 978-1-5095-0631-6 (pb)
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Names: Stiegler, Bernard, author.
Title: Automatic society / Bernard Stiegler.
Other titles: Société automatique. English
Description: Cambridge, UK ; Malden, MA : Polity Press, [2016]– | “First published in [French] as La Société automatique.” | Includes bibliographical references and index. Contents: Volume 1. The future of work –
Identifiers: LCCN 2016023994 (print) | LCCN 2016046717 (ebook) | ISBN 9781509506309 (v. 1 : hardcover : alk. paper) | ISBN 1509506306 (v. 1 : hardcover : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781509506316 (v. 1 : pbk. : alk. paper) | ISBN 1509506314 (v. 1 : pbk. : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781509506330 (mobi) | ISBN 9781509506347 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Automation–Economic aspects. | Automation–Social aspects. | Technological innovations–Social aspects. | Technology and civilization–Philosophy.
Classification: LCC HD6331 .S73513 2016 (print) | LCC HD6331 (ebook) | DDC 338/.064–dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016023994
Typeset in 10.5 on 12 pt Sabon by Toppan Best-set Premedia Limited
Printed and bound in Great Britain by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, UK
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Rational objectivity, technical objectivity and social objectivity are now tightly connected. To neglect one of these aspects of modern scientific culture is to enter the sphere of utopia.
Gaston Bachelard1
We untiringly construct the world in order that the hidden dissolution, the universal corruption that governs what ‘is’ should be forgotten in favor of a clear and defined coherence of notions and objects, relations and forms – the work of tranquil man. A work that nothingness would be unable to infiltrate and where beautiful names – all names are beautiful – suffice to make us happy.
Maurice Blanchot2
These motors must be very different from all the others. It seems logical to suppose that Morel designed them so that no one who came to this island would be able to understand them. But the difficulty in running the green motors must stem from their basic difference from the other motors. As I do not understand any of them, this greater difficulty disappears. […] And what if Morel had thought to photograph the motors –
Adolfo Bioy Casares3