From the Golem to Freedom - by Gábor L Ambrus (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

With a particular focus on social media, Gábor L. Ambrus explores how human beings relate to contemporary information technology. Ambrus argues that religious traditions - such as Judaism and Christianity, as well as secular philosophical thought inspired by religion - can be invoked to describe both the freedom and 'unfreedom' of the user of information technology.

To illustrate how individuals relate to technology in a restricted and totalitarian online environment, Ambrus adopts the figure and legend of the golem from Jewish mysticism. At the same time, his argument features other religious concepts and themes to describe an alternative to our present predicament of 'unfreedom', while not seeking to portray any 'redemption' outside the technological environment.

At the core of his argument, Ambrus presents the experience of nothingness as a source of freedom, opening up the possibility for a free relationship for us all with information technology.

Review Quotes

"What could be more incompatible than religion and technology? The two phenomena seem to have nothing in common. The challenge for Ambrus ... is to discuss previous classic and contemporary attempts to connect the two ... Recommended [for a]dvanced undergraduates through faculty." --CHOICE

"This is a rich philosophical discussion of the religious 'spell' of contemporary information technology that includes a powerful political analysis: as users of technology we are locked into a 'dialectic of unfreedom' with our golem slave technologies ... Highly recommended reading for anyone willing to look further than the one-liners of tabloid AI ethics." --Mark Coeckelbergh, University of Vienna, Austria

"This is an important contribution to the field and a topical resource as we learn to cope with the massive challenges presented by social media and other forms on Internet-based technology." --Christopher B. Barnett, Villanova University, USA

"In an age overflowing with information and deeply rooted in technology, the author courageously delves into the intricate ties between technology, religion, and the core of human existence. By closely scrutinizing the crossroads of technological breakthroughs and their role in our lives, this book provides readers with not just a mirror to our present situation, but also a deep journey into age-old wisdoms and their significance in our modern, tech-centric world." --L. M. Possati, postdoctoral researcher, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands

About the Author