Holding On to Reality: The Nature of Information at the Turn of the MillenniumUniversity of Chicago Press, 2007 M12 1 - 282 pages Holding On to Reality is a brilliant history of information, from its inception in the natural world to its role in the transformation of culture to the current Internet mania and is attendant assets and liabilities. Drawing on the history of ideas, the details of information technology, and the boundaries of the human condition, Borgmann illuminates the relationship between things and signs, between reality and information. "[Borgmann] has offered a stunningly clear definition of information in Holding On to Reality. . . . He leaves room for little argument, unless one wants to pose the now vogue objection: I guess it depends on what you mean by nothing."—Paul Bennett, Wired "A superb anecdotal analysis of information for a hype-addled age."—New Scientist "This insightful and poetic reflection on the changing nature of information is a wonderful antidote to much of the current hype about the 'information revolution.' Borgmann reminds us that whatever the reality of our time, we need 'a balance of signs and things' in our lives."—Margaret Wertheim, LA Weekly |
From inside the book
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Page 1
... scores , and constitutions , infor- mation for erecting buildings , making music , and ordering society . Information about reality exhibits its pristine form in a natural setting . An expanse of smooth gravel is a sign that you are ...
... scores , and constitutions , infor- mation for erecting buildings , making music , and ordering society . Information about reality exhibits its pristine form in a natural setting . An expanse of smooth gravel is a sign that you are ...
Page 2
... scores en- abled musicians to perform cantatas . An economy of cultural signs came to enrich the realm of natural ... score — for performing the cantata , it is in the common understanding music itself . Information through the power ...
... scores en- abled musicians to perform cantatas . An economy of cultural signs came to enrich the realm of natural ... score — for performing the cantata , it is in the common understanding music itself . Information through the power ...
Page 38
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Contents
1 | |
7 | |
Part Two Cultural Information Information for Reality | 55 |
Part Three Technological Information Information as Reality | 123 |
Conclusion Information and Reality | 213 |
Notes | 235 |
Index | 265 |
Other editions - View all
Holding On to Reality: The Nature of Information at the Turn of the Millennium Albert Borgmann No preview available - 2000 |
Common terms and phrases
Abraham alphabet ancestral environment ancient Bach Bach's Bill McKibben binary bits Boolean algebra cairn Cambridge Cantata century church compact disc construction context contingency convey coordinate system cultural information cyberspace device disc electrons eloquence engagement FALSE fragility Freiburg gate geometry grid human Ibid information about reality information and reality information technology information theory intelligence Johann Sebastian Bach John Keith Devlin kind landmark language letters Literacy logographic Mathematical mation meaning measure medieval memory minster Missoula Montana natural information natural signs notation oral Paging Doctor particular person piece Plato possible precise present Rattlesnake reading Realizing Information records reference Salish score sense shape Sherry Turkle signs and things silicon sounds space square Steven Weinberg structure symbols technological information Theuth tion tower traditional transparency TRUE University Press valley virtual ambiguity virtual reality Warren Weaver words writing York