Techgnosis: Myth, Magic, Mysticism in the Age of InformationExploring the mystical impulses behind our obsession with information technology, TechGnosis presents a fascinating and passionately original perspective on technoculture. Today we often assume that the triumph of technological rationality has condemned the spiritual imagination to the trash heap of history. But as Erik Davis explains, religious impulses and magical dreams permeate the history of technology, and especially information technology. Ranging from the printing press to the telegraph, from radio to the Internet, Davis peels away the utilitarian shell of technology to reveal the mystical and millennialist fervor that attends each new communications breakthrough. ;;;;;;;; As he unveils the hidden history of technomysticism, Davis shows how the religious imagination continues to feed the utopian dreams, apocalyptic visions, digital phantasms, and alien obsessions that populate today's technological unconscious. From shamanism to alchemy, evangelism to Buddhism, TechGnosis probes our virtual future through the visionary lenses of the past. In these pages, Davis offers a lucid, playful, and astonishingly erudite journey through our hyper-mediated environment. Anyone grappling with the morphing boundaries and terminal speed of our present moment will want to take the ride. |
Contents
crossed wires | 1 |
imagining technologies | 10 |
the gnostic infonaut | 76 |
Copyright | |
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alchemical alien ancient angels animist apocalyptic archetypal archons argues believe body brain called century Christian communication complex consciousness cosmic cosmos counterculture creative cult culture cybernetic cyberspace demiurge Dick divine dream earth electrical electromagnetic electronic engineering esoteric experience Extropians force global gnosis gnostic Gurdjieff hacker Hermes Hermetica human Ibid images imagination Indra's net information age intelligence Internet libertarians living logic machines magic magnetic Mark Dery Mark Pesce Marshall McLuhan matrix McLuhan metaphors metaphysical mind modern mutation mystical myth nature Neoplatonic networks notion occult organic Pagans perception Philip K philosopher planet Plato popular postmodern psychological reality religion religious ritual scientific scientists sense simply simulation social society soul space spiritual symbolic tech techno-utopians technopagan Teilhard Tesla tion trans transcendent transformation universe utopian virtual virtual reality vision visionary William Irwin Thompson writing