ernst jünger in cyberspace

mailing list archive - RE: Technology



I was trying to illustrate my point that the apparent dominance of the
West is contradicted by the (re)-emergence of what one might call "tribal"
identities throughout the world. 
[Roberto Calvo Macias]  Yes, youŽre right. That movement exists. And
I had my own idea about its reasons which IŽll expose you in a mini-essay
very soon. But I thought we was talking about West, as it appears in Der
Weltstaat or in OS Der Untergang des Abendlandes, and its relationship
with technology. Does a Basque feel technology different from a swabian?
Where is the new Guggenheim, made of latest technology? Does a 
norwegian feel cars, or airplane different from a Corsican? And their childs,
didnŽt both wear Nike new-super-Jordan-shoes? 
What I mean by multi-layered is the whole complex of "external" influences
which have been absorbed and reworked in Europe/USA and which continue to
do so. Trivial examples - what would Germany be without Doener shops? Or
England without reggae and curry? (Not for nothing was one of the
inofficial England World Cup Songs called "Vindaloo").
[Roberto Calvo Macias]  Its the same question. I think, as you says, that
are trivial things. Europeans have been going to chinese restaurants during
decades, do you think we have adquired some Tao by this: not at all. We
keep accelerating, and thats the evidence we keep being West. That
faustic soul OS talk about keep inside us. 
> The cartesian world view died with relativity.. And relativity with irreversibility
> of time, caoplexity . Do you read IP New Alliance? .  

No, and I didn't even try to read "A Brief History of Time" ;-)
[Roberto Calvo Macias]  ;-) 
> Hm, where the BJP develop atom bombs in the name of Hindu nationalism!!
> [Roberto Calvo Macias]  Dont mix country with singular person. 
> One really ought to be careful with such monadic views of culture...
> I am quite agree with you John, but who is being monadic now? 

The point was, of course, that Hindu nationalism is very un-Western (or is
it just the result of British colonial rule having fused INdia together in
the first place??). And that Atom bombs are the epitomony of the
destructives of instrumental rationality which has been the dominant
mentality in the West (and which was also part of the moving force behind
Imperialism). And now it gets complicated precisely because of the
interference and intermingling of two cultures to produce new, instable
hybrids. 
[Roberto Calvo Macias]  Totally agree, John. But thats the problem.
Now the game have increased to include total Earth.  We created
Atom Bombs, so we fire the match. Hindus are only fighting for
themselves, same as European countries are doing during millenias.
We have nothing to critize India, or other countries, they are only
doing same as us. 
Regards,
[Roberto Calvo Macias]  Take care
roberto 
JK
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John King
Eduard-Spranger-Str. 7
Zimmer 5/16
71634 Ludwigsburg
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