Double-ness is Western-ness: --i.e. the mark of our Civilisation Athenean philosophy: Plato &...
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Transcript of Double-ness is Western-ness: --i.e. the mark of our Civilisation Athenean philosophy: Plato &...
Double-ness is Western-ness:--i.e. the mark of our Civilisation Athenean philosophy: Plato & Artistotle circa 500 C. BC. —
The World of Appearance is supported by a (non-appearing) World of Reality: “the Forms” Permanence—vs—Change
Roman Empire: philosophy of Stoicism emotion-vs-reason: balance & control
The Will must agree with Nature Christianity: City of God and City of Man
St. Augustine: Civitas Dei
Interpenetration, co-existence, difference
Non-Western: unitary Japanese: single-ness; One-ness;
difference is dissolved: e.g. suffering is maya=illusion
Islamic Civilisation: Allah is One, therefore all is one. politics, economics, family, education, clothing
Doubleness suggests ‘other-than-Allah’, therefore blasphemous. Idolatry is capital crime; Ikon is capital crime (Islam is
iconoclastic); even representation is a capital crime.
Double-ness in the West External (General)
Evil & Good Chaos & Order Governed & Governors Bourgeoisie &
Proletariat (Marx) Savagery &
Civilisation /Death and Survival (Darwin)
Internal:
Body and Soul Private and Public Vice and Virtue Desire and Self-Control Conscious and
Subconscious
Doubles Literature (Art) as a mirror
Reflects back what the reader—or the reader’s times—shows to the mirror.
Reveals what the subject presents to its objects, but can’t see for him or her self.
Steampunk:(from ‘cyberpunk’)
Golem: (גולם ) Hebrew legend Creature built from matter
& animated In Medieval folklore, a
protector of Jews during porgoms
Religious & Alchemic Obvious precurser to:
Frankenstein Cloning Eugenics
Doppelgänger: ‘double-goer’ A ghostly double of
oneself Prefiguration of impending
evil, misfortune or death Mary Shelley’s husband
famously saw his before death
Transmigration of soul http://totallylookslike.com
A reason for Victorian “doubles” “Amputation” (Marshall
McLuhan, 1911-1980) Technology:
the extentions of man Technology is the
amputation, by science, of human attributes into external devices and creations
We then confront our second-selves
Stages of Amputation1. Literacy
speech & memory
2. Industrialisation Hands, arms, legs
Computerisation Nervous system
Science is ‘amputator’ Dr. Frankenstein Dr. Jekyll Confronts us with ‘evil’
doubles / creations
Douglas Coupland: Duality An icon of surrender
and prayer: seen on the wall of a non-denominational chapel in an American airport
A sign of Faith
Douglas Coupland: DualityFaith = Doubt
Phillip K. Dick: 1928-1982 Either genius or madman
(probably both.) Blade Runner Minority Report Total Recall A Scanner Darkly
Stories of alienated, paranoid, identity-deprived man in technological society
Marshall McLuhan Each technology is an extension of man. Each technology is an amplification of man.
e.g. wheels are extensions of legs e.g. Industrial Machinery are amplifications of bodies
Each extension is also an amputation of the extended human aspect .
When we look at our amputated Self we are: Enraptured (Messiah): Metropolis Frightened
The result is alienation
Marshall McLuhan, Cont’1. Amputated bodies—
machines—are designed as servants to man.
2. Men fix and tend and feed machines: the continued smooth running of the machinery becomes imperative.
3. So, which is servant and which is master?
Narcissus: Double-Self: numbnessAt the start of our civilisation. The Greek god Narcissus sees
his double—his reflection—in a pond and ‘falls in love’ (becomes numbed and immobile) ... and drowns in the pond.
‘Narcissus’= “narcotic” The same behavior as a gaming
addict....
We are numb at the sight of our amputated Self.