Hyperreality How Our Tools Came To Control Us

“Hyperreality: How Our Tools Came To Control Us” by Frank Mulder, published by Wipf and Stock Publishers on August 10, 2021, explores the intricate relationship between technology and human desires. This 144-page book delves into the concept of hyperreality, illustrating how various aspects of modern life—ranging from social media to surveillance—are designed to fulfill our needs while simultaneously masking underlying fears. Mulder presents a critical examination of how these technological systems can dominate our lives, reshaping our world into a complex machine governed by unchangeable laws.
Readers will find an analysis of the risks associated with this hyperreal environment and the challenges of distinguishing between genuine experiences and artificial constructs. Drawing on insights from thinkers like René Girard and Jacques Ellul, the book encourages a reflective approach to navigating the complexities of contemporary existence. It addresses themes of ethics, philosophy, and the implications of information technology, inviting readers to consider the importance of maintaining a joyful spiritual life amidst the pervasive influence of technology.
Official synopsis Publisher
What is the similarity between battery chicken, iris scans, Facebook friends, and porn videos? They are all features of a technical system built to satisfy our desires and to suppress our fears. It is a so-called hyperreality, an improved version of natural reality, promising wealth, security, and belonging.
However, behind the shiny appearance we can detect a few dangerous mechanisms. Increasingly our tools are controlling us, instead of the other way around, and we are steadily rebuilding the world into a machine with laws we are unable to change.
What are the risks of this machine? How can we discern the illusions of hyperreality? With insights derived from René Girard and Jacques Ellul, among others, this book calls for a joyful spiritual life, in the midst of stubborn reality.
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