Lecture 13 - Byung-Chul Han, Technology and Psychopolitics

Posthumanism and Technology

This lecture, I look at Han’s notion of ‘psychopolitics.’ Psychopolitics is the affective moods which besiege human beings as a direct result of contemporary techno-politics. More specifically, I will look at how Han explains what he calls the transparent society which is the primary driver of affective psychopolitics. Secondly, I will explain how the psychopolitics generated by new technologies creates a dangerous form of emotional capitalism. In the last section, I will explain some alternative modes of life which Han suggests might provide us with a refuge from the tempest of technological determinism.

These lectures are brought to you by Staffordshire University's Philosophy team. Come study on our MA in Continental Philosophy via this link. Or, join our MA in Philosophy of Nature, Information and Technology via this link. Find out more about me here. January and September intakes available either F/T or P/T.