The author explores the work of major thinkers and cultural movements that have grappled with the complex relationship between technology, politics and culture. Subjects such as the Internet, cloning, warfare, fascism and Virtual Reality are placed within a broad theoretical context which explores how humanity might, through technology, establish a more ethical relationship with the world. Examining the philosophy of writers such as Heidegger, Benjamin, Lyotard, Virilio, and Zizek, and cultural movements such as Italian Futurism, this book marks a timely intervention in critical theory debates. The broad scope of the book will be of vital interest to those in the fields of philosophy, critical theory, cultural studies, politics and communications.

Simon Cooper is an editor of Arena journal, and teaches in Communications at Monash University

1. Introduction: In the Service of the Machine? 2. Beyond Enframing: Heideffer and the Question concerning Technology 3. Walter Benjamin and Technology: Social Form and the Recovery of Aura 4. Futurism and the Politics of a Technological Being in the World 5. Between Totalitarianism and Heterogeneity: Lyotard and the Postmodern Condition 6. Paul Virilio: Overcoming Inertia? 7. Psychoanalysis Ysis,, Cyberspace and its Discontents: Turkle, Zizek, Brennan 8. Conclusion