The emergence of the Digital Age has brought myriad changes that have transformed how we live, work, and interact with one another. We have become increasingly reliant on technology in our daily lives, to the point where it has become an integral part of our existence. However, this transition into the Digital Age has been insidious, and its effects on our ontological being are only beginning to be understood.
Mark Jarzombek, the author of Digital Stockholm Syndrome in the Post-Ontological Age, is a renowned history professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has authored several books and written extensively on a wide range of subjects, including digital philosophy. His expertise in architecture is reflected in his co-founding of the Office of (Un) Certainty Research. This design practice aims to rethink architecture in light of the emergent scientific, social, and political parameters of the 21st century.
In his latest book on digital ontology, Jarzombek delves into the impact of technology on our ontology, exploring the ways in which our interactions with technology are transforming our very being. He argues that the 20th and 21st centuries have been subject to the manipulation and effects of computation, algorithmic modeling, data capitalism, multinational corporations, Big data, and global post-ontology. His exploration of these complex and interconnected themes offers readers a unique and engaging perspective on the digital age.
Digital Stockholm Syndrome in the Post-Ontological Age presents a compelling argument about the nature of our relationship with technology and the ways in which it is reshaping our understanding of what it means to be human. In this ontological inquiry, Jarzombek explores how technology is pushing us to our physical and psychological limits and how it is transforming the very fabric of our being.
The book begins by tracing the gradual adaptation of humans to technology from the early days of the Industrial Revolution to the present day. Jarzombek argues that this transition has been gradual and almost imperceptible and that the realm of algorithms surrounding us is almost completely invisible to the common person. Yet, despite its invisibility, the impact of algorithms on our lives is undeniable. They are everywhere, shaping how we think, feel, and behave.
Jarzombek suggests that this new reality calls for a new type of science that considers how technology is transforming our ontological being. He proposes a digital ontology, which considers how technology pushes us to our corporeal, sensate, moral, physical, psychological, political, social, environmental, sexual, bacteriological, and global limits.
At the heart of this ontological inquiry is the notion of dependency. Jarzombek argues that major corporations, governments, and hackers are all data addicts and that humans are the objects of their addiction. Therefore, the story of the Digital Age is not just about technology and capitalism but about systems of dependency that are changing the very nature of our existence.
To understand this new reality, Jarzombek proposes three laws that describe the nature of this dependency. These laws are thermodynamic in nature since the algorithmic world is a heat-producing-seeking world that produces, captures, and exploits the life pulse of data. The first law states that data must be produced, the second law states that data must be captured, and the third law states that data must be exploited.
These laws reflect how technology transforms our relationship with the world around us. We increasingly depend on technology to produce, capture, and exploit data, changing how we interact with one another and the world around us. It shapes our understanding of what it means to be human and challenges us to rethink our ontological assumptions about the nature of reality.
Throughout the book, Jarzombek draws on his deep understanding of the history of digital ontology and philosophy to shed light on the implications of our increasing dependence on technology. He argues that the rise of algorithms has created a new ontology, one that is defined by the complex interplay between humans and technology. This new ontology has profound implications for our comprehension of what it means to be human and raises new questions about the nature of reality itself.
In conclusion, Mark Jarzombek’s Digital Stockholm Syndrome in the Post-Ontological Age offers a compelling and insightful exploration of the impact of technology on our ontology. Jarzombek’s analysis of the complex interplay between humans and technology highlights the profound implications of our increasing dependence on algorithms and data capitalism. His call for a new type of science that considers algorithmic ontology as an essential aspect of human existence is a wake-up call for anyone concerned about the direction in which our society is headed.
Jarzombek offers a fresh perspective on the systems of dependency that underlie our interactions with technology by proposing a new set of laws to describe our relationship with technology. Rather than viewing technology and capitalism as separate entities, he argues that they are both part of a larger system that exploits the life pulse of data.
As we deal with the challenges of the digital age, Jarzombek’s insights provide valuable guidance for navigating the complex terrain of digital ontology. Moreover, his call for a more critical and nuanced understanding of the impact of technology on our lives is a crucial step in creating a more bearable and equitable future for all. Ultimately, Digital Stockholm Syndrome in the Post-Ontological Age is a must-read for anyone concerned with understanding the complex and rapidly-evolving landscape of the digital age and the profound implications of our increasing dependence on technology.