The Proletarianization Of Knowledge In Information Technology Era

This dissertation mainly focuses on contemporary French philosopher Bernard Stiegler's(1952-)'s thought and critique on the issue of the proletarianization of knowledge in our information technology era.On the basis of the graft of philosophy of technology,phenomenology,and the critique of political economy of Marxism,Stiegler offers a critical reflection on the "alienation" of science and technology in the digital subsistence of capitalism and builds his own "new" critique of political economy,leading current radical thought in the realm of the critique of technological ideology.Through summarizing the studies on Bernard Stiegler in recent years by scholars both at home and abroad in the first chapter,this dissertation discusses the research emphases,main interests,and omissions of previous related studies,while pointing out that,in fact,Stiegler's ideas on political economy have largely been overlooked by academia.In the second chapter,this study attempts to trace the sources of Stiegler's theory on the proletarianization of knowledge from two aspects:theoretical foundation and influences from the reality of modern society.Regarding the former,Stiegler develops the notion of technology evolution discussed by technologists and anthropologists Bertrand Gille,Gilbert Simondon,and Andre Leroi-Gourhan;at the same time,he draws on the work of continental philosophers Kant,Husserl,Heidegger,Derrida,and Marx,and especially on their thought regarding the human condition,survival problems,and postmodernism.The differance between human("who")and technology("what"),as well as the structure of human nature are discussed in the third chapter as the theoretical prerequisites of the thought on the proletarianization of knowledge.Employing the theory of anthropogenesis found in Greek mythology,Stiegler defines the role of technology in human survival as prosthesis and argues that living through technology endows humans with temporality and historicity.The fourth chapter focuses on the structure of human nature("human-technology")which is evidence that humans actually depend on technology.Moreover,man's existence in technology which is essentially external to him and,at the same time,the preservation of human thought and experience through technology have rendered the transfer of knowledge from humans to technology inevitable.Technology is pharmacological,which means it is both a remedy(assisting human existence)and a poison(resulting in pernicious consequences).In the information technology era,television programs,movies,and computers facilitate the storage of knowledge,but have actually deprived humans of real knowledge.Regardless of who we are,experts or non-experts,our savoir-vivre and savoir-faire are external to us,kept in some sort of apparatus or machine.Without technological equipment,humans would be the "proletariats" in knowledge.What is worse,in Stiegler's view,is that the loss of knowledge triggers the loss of emotion and desire:libido desire turns into a mere drive and the care for as well as attention to others gradually disappear.People in our contemporary capitalist society thus become individuals lacking individuation.Faced with this problem,Stiegler proposes some "detox" methods,namely economy of contribution and general organology.Finally,the fifth chapter offers some clarifications on certain misapprehended ideas,as well as reflections on the theory of the proletarianization of knowledge,while pointing out some problems and theoretical dilemmas that are worth pursuing in future research.