http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/10/08/rob-shields-on-the-virtual/ mind/tech bazar from outer space Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:04:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.1 http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/10/08/rob-shields-on-the-virtual/#comment-489686 Rob Shields Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:32:22 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/10/08/rob-shields-on-the-virtual/#comment-489686 I wanted to argue that we have always been surrounded by virtualities, in the form of 'intangible goods' (such as brands) or other real but not tangible 'things' such as community. There is a tendency to argue that if you can't touch it or see it, such a thing doesn't exist. Yet these things are still extremely important to people. Other examples include class, culture and gender... The 'Cyber' movements of the 1980s-90s rediscovered the importance of these real but not actual entities and popularized the term 'virtual', but the definition goes back to writers such as Proust who described memories as virtual, theorists such as C.S. Pearce. in fact the virtual was at the heart of Luther's objections to Catholic doctrine and the Medieval debate about how many Angels fit onthe head of a pin was a debate about whether they are virtual or not! I wanted to argue that we have always been surrounded by virtualities, in the form of ‘intangible goods’ (such as brands) or other real but not tangible ‘things’ such as community. There is a tendency to argue that if you can’t touch it or see it, such a thing doesn’t exist. Yet these things are still extremely important to people. Other examples include class, culture and gender… The ‘Cyber’ movements of the 1980s-90s rediscovered the importance of these real but not actual entities and popularized the term ‘virtual’, but the definition goes back to writers such as Proust who described memories as virtual, theorists such as C.S. Pearce. in fact the virtual was at the heart of Luther’s objections to Catholic doctrine and the Medieval debate about how many Angels fit onthe head of a pin was a debate about whether they are virtual or not!

]]> http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/10/08/rob-shields-on-the-virtual/#comment-448155 Nicolas Nova Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:32:24 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/10/08/rob-shields-on-the-virtual/#comment-448155 Good to know! His work his very relevant, I'm happy to discovered it. Good to know! His work his very relevant, I’m happy to discovered it.

]]> http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/10/08/rob-shields-on-the-virtual/#comment-448154 Anne Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:29:44 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/10/08/rob-shields-on-the-virtual/#comment-448154 I'm sure Rob will be interested/pleased to know his writing is making it out beyond social theory circles! I’m sure Rob will be interested/pleased to know his writing is making it out beyond social theory circles!

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