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Interest in sensory atmospheres and architectural and urban ambiances has been growing for over 30 years. A key figure in this field is acclaimed German philosopher Gernot Böhme whose influential conception of what atmospheres are and how they function has been only partially available to the English-speaking public. This translation of key essays along with an original introduction charts the development of Gernot Böhme's philosophy of atmospheres and how it can be applied in various contexts such as scenography, commodity aesthetics, advertising, architecture, design, and art. The phenomenological analysis of atmospheres has proved very fruitful and its most important, and successful, ap...
Technology has extended its reach to the human body, not just in a literal sense, through implants, transplants and technological substitutes for biological organs, but in a more figurative sense too. Technological infrastructure and the institutions of a technified society today determine what perception is, how we communicate and what forms of human relationship with the natural world are possible. A fundamental new conception of technology is urgently needed. Technology can no longer be seen as a means for efficiently attaining pre-established ends. Rather, it must be seen as a total structure which makes new forms of human action and human relationship possible, while limiting the possibilities of others. In Invasive Technification, acclaimed German philosopher Gernot Böhme offers a reading of technology that explores the many dimensions in which technology presents challenges for modern human beings. It is a book about the preservation of humanity and humane values under the demanding conditions of a technically advanced civilisation and makes a major contribution to the contemporary philosophy of technology.
Aesthetic Economy is a theory of the recent development of capitalism in our national economies. Basic needs are easily satisfied and, as a result, most commodities are no longer intended for consumption, but for the staging of our lives. That is, they are used to produce atmospheres. Applications of the theory are found wherever staging is performed: in commodity aesthetics, in marketing, as well as in the sphere of production. As to technology, we find a turn from useful to joyful technology. And the technology of entertainment has become a huge part of the general economy. Similarly, a further horizon of Aesthetic Economy is to be seen in the aestheticization of politics, the staging of sporting events and the management of culture.
The first systematic collection and translation into English of Gernot Böhme's key writings on atmosphere.
"There is fast-growing awareness of the role atmospheres play in architecture. Of equal interest to contemporary architectural practice as it is to architectural theory and aesthetics, this 'atmospheric turn' owes much to the work of the German philosopher Gernot Beohme. Atmospheric Architectures: The Aesthetics of Felt Spaces brings together Beohme's most seminal writings on the subject, through chapters selected from his classic books and influential articles, many of which have hitherto only been available in German. This is the only translated version authorised by Beohme himself, and is the first coherent collection deploying a consistent terminology. It is a work which will provide ric...
In this clear and accessible book, Gernot Böhme places philosophical ethics in the context of our individual and social lives. Arguing against the conception of ethics as a body of knowledge, Böhme defines morality as a matter of ‘serious questions'. In the case of an individual, a serious question is one that determines that person's mode of living. In the case of society, a serious question is one that shapes our social norms. In Ethics in Context, Böhme explores the key areas of moral living and moral discourse. He examines some of the urgent issues affecting society today, such as the moral implications of reproductive technology, man's mastery over nature and the right of citizenship. This book is a lucid and engaging guide to ethics, which will be of great interest to students of philosophy and, indeed, to all those interested in the subject.
Gernot Böhme, a distinguished and original contributor to critical theory's philosophy of science project, sets out the main theses of this program in an important volume for science studies scholars. Stressing that science is a necessary aspect of advanced societies, Böhme explores the most fundamental questions about its social, political, and cultural roles in modern society. In light of the mixed blessings of technical society, Böhme questions whether we can continue to regard the institution of science as the top of a hierarchy of knowledge or as a neutral means of progress, let alone as a benign force for good. Science and its future are too important to be left to the scientists; society, Böhme insists, must take control of its scientific future.
This collection of essays looks at the dark medical research conducted during and after World War II. Contributors describe this research, how it was brought to light, and the rationalisations of those who perpetrated and benefited from it.
Architecture is increasingly understood to be a sensual, spatial experience, which means that the experience of buildings and spatial constellations is also a perception of atmospheres that are rated as positive or negative. Architects, planners, investors, and politicians must produce effects such as these according to intersubjective and communicable criteria, and not intuitively or randomly. Architectural Atmospheres addresses the growing awareness of the atmospheric dimension of architecture and provides a current, programmatic discussion of this topic. What possibilities does this approach open to architecture, what value does this knowledge have? Three essays and a conversation lead a ...
Atmosphere is an essential concept for Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. In his text Atmospheres (1996), Zumthor identified a series of themes that play a role in his work in achieving architectonic atmosphere. OASE exchanges ideas with Zumthor about the current relevance of this text, and about the practice of bringing together these elements in the design and construction process. Finnish architect Juhani Pallasmaa relates atmosphere in architecture to examples and theories from other disciplines like psychology and the visual arts. Zumthor and Pallasmaa also introduce the work of contemporary architects who in their view succeed in truly creating atmosphere through construction.