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Cosmic Society Towards a Sociology of the Universe 1st Edition by Peter Dickens ISBN 1435612256 9781435612259

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Author(s): Peter Dickens
ISBN(s): 9781435612259, 1435612256
Edition: 1
File Details: PDF, 2.71 MB
Year: 2007
Language: english
SKU: EB-1952006 Categories: , Tag:

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ISBN 10: 1435612256
ISBN 13: 9781435612259
Author: Peter Dickens

Space weaponry, satellite surveillance and communications, and private space travel are all means in which outer space is being humanized: incorporated into society’s projects. But what are the political implications of society not only being globalized, but becoming ‘cosmic’? Our ideas about society have long affected, and been affected by, our understanding of the universe: large sections of our economy and society are now organized around humanity’s use of outer space. Our view of the universe, our increasingly ‘cosmic’ society, and even human consciousness are being transformed by new relations with the cosmos. As the first sociological book to tackle humanity’s relationship with the universe, this fascinating volume links social theory to classical and contemporary science, and proposes a new ‘cosmic’ social theory. Written in a punchy, student-friendly style, this timely book engages with a range of topical issues, including cyberspace, terrorism, tourism, surveillance and globalization.

Cosmic Society Towards a Sociology of the Universe 1st Table of contents:

1 The cosmic order, the social order and the self
About this chapter
Models of the social order and models of the cosmic order
The primitive universe
Cosmological societies
The Greeks and the growth of abstract knowledge
Aristotle and feudal hierarchy
The Great Chain
Breaking the Chain: the emergence of individualism
The opening of the universe and the opening of the self
New scientific observations of the universe
The Copernican revolution
Copernicus and a paradigm shift
Kepler: ‘the first modern scientist’
Science and the division of labour: alienation or emancipation?
Enlightenment materialism
A Newtonian age of physics
The Newtonian universe and system of government
Contemporary mysticism and abstraction
Einstein and the flight from reality
Big Bang, Big Crunch and the end of the world
Society, cosmos and complexity
Avoiding physical or social reductionism
The theory of everything?
Re-enchanting the universe
Continuing materialism and empiricism
The public universe
Summary
2 The outer spatial fix
About this chapter
The historical materialist universe
Circuits of capital
Crises
Fixes
Spatial fixes
The secondary circuit of capital and the outer spatial fix
The tertiary circuit of capital and the outer spatial fix
The outer spatial fix, commodification and space law
Commodifying outer space
Commodification and space law
Time – space compression and the outer spatial fix
The contradictions of imperialism
Outer spatial fixes: for war or peace?
Fixes and outer space: a fourth phase
The neo-liberal promise and failure
New outer spatial fixes, new risks
Ideological crises of capitalism and the spread of hegemony
Hegemony and social relations
Hegemony and outer space
Hegemony and science fiction
Hegemony, outer space and public opinion
Capitalism, outer space and resistance
The humanization of the universe and cosmic narcissism
Adult narcissism in contemporary society
Narcissism and cosmic society
The universe as object
The universe: from object to subject
Summary
3 Capital, outer space and star wars
About this chapter
The space race
The primary circuit and war
The military–industrial complex
Reviving the military–industrial complex
The military–industrial–space complex
Capital, ‘spatial fixes’ and government in absentia
Super regions in space
Capital fixes and Earthly wars
Technology, speed and the cosmos
Pure wars
Space technology and the future of pure wars
Militarization and surveillance
Securing space
Ideology and contemporary war
A war far, far away
The public and weapons in space
Summary
4 Satellites and social power
About this chapter
Satellites and society: an overview
Satellite functions
A new ‘information’ or ‘network’ society?
‘Information’ and ‘networks’ in social and political context
Power in the network society
Media, capital and control of satellites
Hegemony in the cosmic society
Electronic colonization
An unstable ‘fix’
Counter-hegemony
Surveillance via panopticism
Satellites and biopower: a cosmic panopticon
Surveillance and hegemony
Satellites, biopower and regulation of the primary circuit
Satellites, biopower, and the tertiary circuit
Panopticism and the regulation of protest
Critiquing panopticism: potentials for resistance
Subjectivity and cosmic society
Summary
5 Space tourism and human identity
About this chapter
A burgeoning industry
A sociology of space tourism
Circuits of Earth, circuits of capital
Tourism and conspicious consumption
Leisure and identity
Identity and capital
The new Caribbean
Selling space tourism
The space tourist as pilgrim
The overview effect
Journeys into outer space and journeys into inner space
Pro-space activism and the psyche
A narcissistic journey
The public and space tourism
Summary
6 Industry and empire in space
About this chapter
Outer space as object
Privatization and commercialization of space
Materials from outer space
Solar energy
Colonization
Terraforming
The rationale for planetary engineering
The arrogance of humanism
A cosmic risk society?
Health risks
The nuclear risk
More science and technology, not less
Space junk and manufactured risk
Capital and the final frontier
Resolving the second contradiction of capitalism?
Valuing outer space
Space exploration and popular culture
Paradise, Putropia and the cosmos
Cosmos and catastrophe
Shocks from cosmic entities
Subjectivities: towards a cosmic individualism
Humanizing outer space: the ideology of the pro-space movement
The frontier
Freedom and the individual
Growth
Resources and prosperity
Inspiration
Genetics
Peace
Humanizing outer space: popular opinion
Summary
7 Conclusion Cosmic imperialism and social resistance
About this chapter
Cosmic society and the constructed universe
Cosmic society and the outer spatial fix
Contesting the future of the universe
New social movements and counter-hegemony
The multitude
The Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space
The global and the local
The role of intellectuals
Organic intellectuals
Towards a sociology of the universe
Space for good or ill?
Appendix A Relevant websites
Pro-space organizations
Organizations contesting the use of outer space for military purposes
Some companies involved in space tourism and development projects
Social science resources and courses relating to outer space
Appendix B The Mass Observation Archive Summer 2005 Directive

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Tags: Peter Dickens, Cosmic Society, Sociology