Abstract
This article focuses on the power of technological mediation from the point of view of autonomist Marxism (Hardt, Negri, Virno, Berardi, Lazzarrato). The first part of the article discusses the theories developed on technological mediation in postphenomenology (Ihde, Verbeek) and critical theory of technology (Feenberg) with regard to their respective power perspectives and ways of coping with relations of power embedded in technical artifacts and systems. Rather than focusing on the clashes between the hermeneutic postphenomenological approach and the dialectics of critical theory, it is argued that in both the category of resistance amidst power-relations is at least similar in one regard: resistance to the power of technology is conceptualized as a reactive force. The second part of the article reads technological mediation through the lens of the antagonistic power-perspective on class struggle developed in autonomist Marxism. The outline of a provisional autonomist philosophy of technology is developed using Foucauldian dispositifs of biopower in contrast to the hermeneutic and dialectical approach. It is thus argued that resistance should here be understood in terms of practice that subverts the technically mediated circuit of production itself.
Highlights
How can we conceptualize resistance in our technologically mediated world? Perhaps the word resistance rings alarm bells with contemporary philosophers of technology, especially with those who have stressed the essentially interwoven character of man and technology
Autonomist Marxism is that school of Marxism centered on the class struggle (Wright 2002), as opposed to more conventional political economist readings of Marx focused on capital accumulation, or philosophical ones such as those of the Frankfurt School (Cleaver 2000)
We discussed the hermeneutic postphenomenological view developed by Verbeek, and Feenberg’s dialectic critical theory, and we brought these together for a first approximation of autonomist philosophy of technology
Summary
How can we conceptualize resistance in our technologically mediated world? Perhaps the word resistance rings alarm bells with contemporary philosophers of technology, especially with those who have stressed the essentially interwoven character of man and technology. Don Ihde (1990), Don Ihde and Evan Selinger (2003), and PeterPaul Verbeek (2005) have focused on the transformative dimension of technical artifacts on human experience, their efforts revolving around the concepts of technical mediation and relational ontology Among their claims has been the discrediting of Marxist approaches, charging the latter with a lingering but inherent technophobia (Verbeek 2013). Thereafter, we propose an alternative way of understanding power/resistance by drawing on the incorporation of Foucault’s work within the autonomist tradition, focusing on the Marxist interpretation given to his notion of biopower The result of this will be a provisional outline of an autonomist view on technology: the mediation of the class struggle
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
