tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027798158442286806.post6740186943439292466..comments2023-10-29T01:27:43.278-07:00Comments on Premediation: "We Were Warned": CNN Premediates Cyber.ShockWaveRichard Grusinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16236393993863736840noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027798158442286806.post-35658262205578699042010-02-26T18:54:00.747-08:002010-02-26T18:54:00.747-08:00Another interesting post. When is a simulation no...Another interesting post. When is a simulation not a simulation, but rather an exercise in demagoguery? When does the transmission of knowledge- of scenarios of future risk- turn into the deployment of power, the attempt to manufacture consent for policies which we would otherwise be hesitant to support? <br /><br />This cyber warfare video seems to be a good example of this, of how the deployment of knowledge comes to take on a deeply political role. The speech situation of the video is also interesting from the perspective of Albert Borgmann's philosophy. Instead of raising questions about the ends and purposes of political institutions and formations, the people in the video concentrate on means- i.e., on how we can best deal with the implicit end of avoiding the negative consequences of cyber warfare. Of course, the obvious answer to this question is to <br /><br />This kind of lack of questioning of the ends of political institutions on the part of much American political discourse (focusing instead on means) seems similar to me to what we saw with the premediation and scare-episodes preceding the Iraq war, and makes me somewhat pessimistic about the current state of (mass-mediated) American political life. Perhaps, in a country where corporations as well as government authorities have acquired enormous amounts of power, the conditions for freedom are disappearing and democratic rule over the government is withdrawing, giving way to technocracy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com