2016
Hansen, Ejvind
Hackers in Hiding: a Foucaultian Analysis Journal Article
In: Philosophy & Technology, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 5-19, 2016, ISSN: 2210-5433.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: academic, capitalism, critique, internet, opensource
@article{Hansen2016b,
title = {Hackers in Hiding: a Foucaultian Analysis},
author = {Ejvind Hansen},
url = {http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13347-014-0182-7
http://uploads.ejvindh.net/Philosophy/Preprint_MFHacking.pdf},
doi = {10.1007/s13347-014-0182-7},
issn = {2210-5433},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-03-01},
journal = {Philosophy & Technology},
volume = {29},
number = {1},
pages = {5-19},
abstract = {On several occasions Michel Foucault advocated a methodological turn towards what he called a “happy positivism”. Foucault’s emphasis on the surface does not deny the importance of structures of hiding, but understands it as a game in which the structures of hiding are viewed as contingently given. In this paper I will analyse the conflict between the hacker movement and the field of corporate interests. I argue that the introduction of graphical user interfaces and the maintaining of copyright interests are the contingent background of the ongoing conflict. By bracketing the analyses of hidden intentional structures, the happy positivist is thus able to facilitate deeper understandings of the prevailing structures of hiding.},
keywords = {academic, capitalism, critique, internet, opensource},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
On several occasions Michel Foucault advocated a methodological turn towards what he called a “happy positivism”. Foucault’s emphasis on the surface does not deny the importance of structures of hiding, but understands it as a game in which the structures of hiding are viewed as contingently given. In this paper I will analyse the conflict between the hacker movement and the field of corporate interests. I argue that the introduction of graphical user interfaces and the maintaining of copyright interests are the contingent background of the ongoing conflict. By bracketing the analyses of hidden intentional structures, the happy positivist is thus able to facilitate deeper understandings of the prevailing structures of hiding.
2015
Hansen, Ejvind
The Homo Sacer of open-source journalism Journal Article
In: Empedocles: European Journal for the Philosophy of Communication, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 21–38, 2015.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: academic, internet, opensource
@article{Hansen2015b,
title = {The Homo Sacer of open-source journalism},
author = { Ejvind Hansen},
url = {http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/intellect/ejpc/2015/00000006/00000001/art00002
http://uploads.ejvindh.net/Philosophy/Preprint_HomoSacerOpenSource.pdf},
doi = {10.1386/ejpc.6.1.21_1},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-01-01},
urldate = {2015-01-01},
journal = {Empedocles: European Journal for the Philosophy of Communication},
volume = {6},
number = {1},
pages = {21--38},
abstract = {In this article I discuss the democratic implications of a journalistic turn towards some of the ideals hosted in the open-source movements. I argue that such a turn would be, from the egalitarian and democratic points of view, of real benefit, since it seems to facilitate a dissolution of several dichotomies. It is, however, also important to notice that in this gesture of overturning ossified norms, new kinds of blind spots in the public awareness are created. Think, for instance, of the exclusion that is encountered by those who are (computer) illiterate or averse to the intrusive atmosphere of the Internet. In addition, think of the perpetually Other – the marginalized subjectivities of those who have no voice, luck or fairness in society anyway. The Internet sphere could turn out to add another dimension to their exclusion or be used as a tool for harassing them in various ways.},
keywords = {academic, internet, opensource},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
In this article I discuss the democratic implications of a journalistic turn towards some of the ideals hosted in the open-source movements. I argue that such a turn would be, from the egalitarian and democratic points of view, of real benefit, since it seems to facilitate a dissolution of several dichotomies. It is, however, also important to notice that in this gesture of overturning ossified norms, new kinds of blind spots in the public awareness are created. Think, for instance, of the exclusion that is encountered by those who are (computer) illiterate or averse to the intrusive atmosphere of the Internet. In addition, think of the perpetually Other – the marginalized subjectivities of those who have no voice, luck or fairness in society anyway. The Internet sphere could turn out to add another dimension to their exclusion or be used as a tool for harassing them in various ways.
2012
Hansen, Ejvind
Den åbne kapitalisme Book Section
In: Hansen, Ejvind; Thorup, Mikkel; Raffnsøe-Møller, Morten (Ed.): Kapitalismens ansigter, pp. 43–55, Philosophia, Aarhus, 2012, ISBN: 978-87-88663-81-5.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: academic, capitalism, opensource
@incollection{Hansen2012c,
title = {Den åbne kapitalisme},
author = { Ejvind Hansen},
editor = {Ejvind Hansen and Mikkel Thorup and Morten Raffnsøe-Møller},
url = {http://www.philosophia.dk/Shop/Nyeste/Kapitalismens_ansigter_k99_i52.html
http://uploads.ejvindh.net/Philosophy/Preprint_DenÅbneKapitalisme.pdf},
isbn = {978-87-88663-81-5},
year = {2012},
date = {2012-01-01},
booktitle = {Kapitalismens ansigter},
pages = {43--55},
publisher = {Philosophia},
address = {Aarhus},
abstract = {En traditionel diskussion af kapitalismen i modstillingen mellem den liberalistiske og socialistiske tilgang bygger på modstillingen mellem det frie individ overfor det determinerende system. Jeg vil vise, at denne modstilling historisk er tæt forbundet med kapitalismen, og at den i disse år er under udvikling. Det traditionelle kapitalistiske samfund bygger på en modstilling mellem mine interesser overfor andres. Kapitalistisk økonomi drives af en ulighed i bevægelse. Men netop denne modstilling og ulighed er i disse år under udfordring.Jeg vil vise at modstillingen udfordres i takt med en paradigmatisk vending fra materielt forståelse af varerne og kapitalen, til en informationel forståelse af samme. Heraf følger at den eksklusive ejendomsret (hvor en persons/gruppes ejerskab udelukker andre(s) ejerskab af samme genstand) bliver mindre oplagt som strukturel omdrejningspunkt for udvekslingen. Derfor er den atomare-individualistiske forståelse af mennesket heller ikke længere så påtrængende, idet der ikke længere er en klar modsætning mellem de enkelte mennesker. I den nye situation er det største problem måske ikke oppositionen mellem individ og system, men derimod risikoen for usynlighed eller manglende opmærksomhed.},
keywords = {academic, capitalism, opensource},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}
En traditionel diskussion af kapitalismen i modstillingen mellem den liberalistiske og socialistiske tilgang bygger på modstillingen mellem det frie individ overfor det determinerende system. Jeg vil vise, at denne modstilling historisk er tæt forbundet med kapitalismen, og at den i disse år er under udvikling. Det traditionelle kapitalistiske samfund bygger på en modstilling mellem mine interesser overfor andres. Kapitalistisk økonomi drives af en ulighed i bevægelse. Men netop denne modstilling og ulighed er i disse år under udfordring.Jeg vil vise at modstillingen udfordres i takt med en paradigmatisk vending fra materielt forståelse af varerne og kapitalen, til en informationel forståelse af samme. Heraf følger at den eksklusive ejendomsret (hvor en persons/gruppes ejerskab udelukker andre(s) ejerskab af samme genstand) bliver mindre oplagt som strukturel omdrejningspunkt for udvekslingen. Derfor er den atomare-individualistiske forståelse af mennesket heller ikke længere så påtrængende, idet der ikke længere er en klar modsætning mellem de enkelte mennesker. I den nye situation er det største problem måske ikke oppositionen mellem individ og system, men derimod risikoen for usynlighed eller manglende opmærksomhed.
2010
Hansen, Ejvind
Actuvirtuality in the Internet-Mediated Political Public Sphere Book Section
In: Lin, Ching-Yung; McSweeney, John (Ed.): Representation and Contestation : ‘Cultural’ Politics in a Political Century, pp. 27–46, Editions Rodopi, Amsterdam, 2010.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: academic, internet, opensource, publicsphere
@incollection{Hansen2010b,
title = {Actuvirtuality in the Internet-Mediated Political Public Sphere},
author = { Ejvind Hansen},
editor = {Ching-Yung Lin and John McSweeney},
url = {http://uploads.ejvindh.net/Philosophy/015Actuvirtuality_book.PDF},
year = {2010},
date = {2010-01-01},
urldate = {2010-01-01},
booktitle = {Representation and Contestation : ‘Cultural’ Politics in a Political Century},
pages = {27--46},
publisher = {Editions Rodopi},
address = {Amsterdam},
abstract = {In this paper I discuss the transformation of political discourse wrought by the rise of Internet-based communicative media. I argue that the conventional focus on the inter-activity that the Internet makes possible (through the availability of blogging sites, sites to display downloaded videos and pictures, commenting, virtual worlds, etc.) is misplaced, or at least in need of modification. I will take a Derridean turn in my analysis of the Internet effect to show that the medium carries a new structure of actuvirtuality, the import of which is to potentially emancipate the Internet user from the serial, coherent rationality that has dominated the major audio-visual media of modernity, thus opening a space for the virtual problematization of political reality. This creates a new field, or game, in which political agents can engage. The problematizing potential of the Internet is, however, counterbalanced by potentials for neutralization. Any radical strategy for change that would privilege the Internet must therefore, I will argue, be supplemented by more reflectively oriented approaches.},
keywords = {academic, internet, opensource, publicsphere},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}
In this paper I discuss the transformation of political discourse wrought by the rise of Internet-based communicative media. I argue that the conventional focus on the inter-activity that the Internet makes possible (through the availability of blogging sites, sites to display downloaded videos and pictures, commenting, virtual worlds, etc.) is misplaced, or at least in need of modification. I will take a Derridean turn in my analysis of the Internet effect to show that the medium carries a new structure of actuvirtuality, the import of which is to potentially emancipate the Internet user from the serial, coherent rationality that has dominated the major audio-visual media of modernity, thus opening a space for the virtual problematization of political reality. This creates a new field, or game, in which political agents can engage. The problematizing potential of the Internet is, however, counterbalanced by potentials for neutralization. Any radical strategy for change that would privilege the Internet must therefore, I will argue, be supplemented by more reflectively oriented approaches.