Crossing the Postmodern Divide

by Albert Borgmann, Albert Borgman

In this eloquent guide to the meanings of the postmodern era, Albert Borgmann charts the options before us as we seek alternatives to the joyless and artificial culture of consumption. Borgmann connects the fundamental ideas driving his understanding of society's ills to every sphere of contemporary social life, and goes beyond the language of postmodern discourse to offer a powerfully articulated vision of what this new era, at its best, has in store.

"[This] thoughtful book is the first remotely realistic map out of the post modern labyrinth."—Joseph Coates, The Chicago Tribune

"Rather astoundingly large-minded vision of the nature of humanity, civilization and science."— Kirkus Reviews

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Cultural, Academic, Science, Technology, Sociology

182 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Page for page, one of the finest examinations you'll find of the social influences behind our historical moment. Twenty years after being written, it still rings prophetic up to the final chapter, which left me unsatisfied--but then so does postmodernism.

[Andrew]

I'll bet Albert Borgmann is a really interesting guy to talk to, and indeed, in his analysis and thoughts, he reminded me a great deal of a religious studies professor I once had. His ideas are interesting, even if they're completely lacking in any terms of evidence or theoretical program.

But they-- like so many other writings to emerge in the wake of Heidegger's thought-- have this rather unsettling anti-modernism. And a great many of Borgmann's ideas for how to revitalize the public sphere have either been fully incorporated into the “hyperactive” system that is the focus of his jeremiad, or are a bit too spiritual for this hardened empiricist.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like many books written on postmodernism during this time (late 80s/early 90s), the description of the problems is sometimes enlightening, while the solutions put forth are generally laughable. In this case, after 130 or so pages, Borgmann suggests a weird psuedo-Christian lovey dovey community. Heavy sigh.

[Chet Duke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book is less than 150 pages, one should not rush through it. This is a thoroughly enjoyable, provocative work that invites one to consider how technology touches life at the individual and communal levels. Borgmann offers a history of technological appropriation, the evolution of urban communities and civic engagement, all while providing a context for how previous eras reflect the state of the modern technological society.
The layout of cities, street grids, divisions of commerce, locations of worship and communal spaces, etc. are all indicative of and/or contribute to the social fabric of communities. Borgmann does an excellent job of contextualizing the role of art and architecture as both a manifestation of and formative element in communal values.

Hyperactivity and Hyperreality comprise the two central problems at the heart of our contemporary situation with technology. Despite the nearly 30-yr gap between this book’s release and my reading of it, Borgmann—with a prophetic cadence—analyzes the ways in which computers and AI distort human interaction and self-consciousness. Borgmann is pessimistic about the prospects of AI supervening human control and becoming a threat to the species...I assume he would have more to say on this now.
I appreciate his attention to the social aspect of a return to nature, how communities deserve to once again become places of engagement and celebration and not commodification, and how the divine can be manifest in a postmodern reality.


I enjoyed the slow burn of this one.

[Adèle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 - Définition très intéressante du modernisme. Borgmann était assez visionnaire dans ses représentations d'un monde hypermoderne. Cela dit, les pistes de solutions avancées dans le dernier chapitre découlent d'une vision chrétienne et beaucoup trop idéaliste pour qu'il soit réellement possible de les appliquer.

[Arrio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prescient and insightful study of the human condition’s changing landscape under duress by social-technological pressures. Worth a very close and examining read, so don’t try to blow through it.

[Bradley Bethel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Borgmann's explanation of modernism and postmodernism is the clearest I've encountered, and his proposed philosophy for redeeming postmodern life, though not as provocative as the thought currently in vogue, is the prescription our society desperately needs.

[Roy Kenagy]

https://pocket.co/share/40de90a9-263a...

RK Nook

[Fernando Pasquini Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Será que os tempos não estão mudando para melhor? Será que economia não está se tornando mais flexível, cooperativa e informada? Será que os computadores e a tecnologia não vão resolver, em breve, os problemas trazidos pelo projeto moderno?
Estas são algumas das perguntas que Borgmann busca responder neste livro. Após apresentar e mostrar as falhas do modernismo e os pontos positivos da crítica pós-moderna, o autor quer mostrar que várias ambiguidades e indefinições ainda estão presentes neste último movimento. Isso significa que estamos em um momento onde a crítica ao modernismo pode tomar duas direções diferentes, conforme propõe o autor: o hipermodernismo, marcado pelas características de hiperrealidade, hiperatividade e hiperinteligência, ou o pós-modernismo realista, marcado por realidades focais, paciência vigorosa, e celebrações comunitárias.
O livro é um alerta para que não tomemos as inovações de nosso tempo como soluções de problemas antigos, sem perceber que elas são "mais do mesmo". Já dizia Jacques Ellul que problemas gerados pela tecnologia não podem ser corrigidos com mais tecnologia - e este também é o ponto da crítica de Borgmann: estamos cegos para o hipermodernismo porque ignoramos o poder da tecnologia na formação de indivíduos, comunidades e nações, transformando-os em consumidores, nichos de mercado e maquinários públicos.
A solução é apresentada de uma forma vaga, no fim do livro, mas que usa palavras fortes, capazes de gerar boas discussões no futuro: uma autêntica recuperação da presença marcante e eloquente da realidade, uma continuidade com o ambiente ao nosso redor, um vigor e paciência diante da dureza e solidez do mundo real - que aprendeu a lidar com a fragilidade humana e a contingência (ou graça?) diante do universo - e uma autêntica celebração comunitária, cujas políticas de incentivo e preservação reconheçam que a substância precede e informa o procedimento.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Technology, in the continuous unfolding of the age post-modernism, has become more and more ambiguous. We could not anymore make sharp delineation between human nature and technology. In some instances technology has already been the norm of what constitutes human worth and value.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has done a lot to change my views on postmodernism. I still do not like the word at all, but this book contains some good ideas on how to overcome the postmodern condition, how to move forward positively as a society as we recover from the failures of the modern project.

[Jessica Zu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally awesome book! Another one I wanna translate into Chinese. God, please give me 5 brains and 10 hands:)

I do not like the ending of this book at all. Too religious!