Personal Privacy and Lyotard's Inhuman

Martin S Olivier

2002

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Citation information

Martin S Olivier, "Personal Privacy and Lyotard's Inhuman," unpublished essay, 2002

Abstract

This essay argues that the threat of the inhuman posed by computing is not in artificial intelligence, as Lyotard sees it. However, knowledge of the personal affairs of another is the basis of intimacy; such intimacy is part of what is properly human. Increased data collection, storage and processing capabilties, however, causes machines to have intimate knowledge about one's affairs that are not even known by one's closest friends. Hence, we argue, Lyotard's fear of the inhuman is more likely to be realised in this manner unless suitable steps are taken to protect personal privacy in this environment, Lyotard's fears might well be realised.

Keywords

Personal privacy, the inhuman

BibTeX entry

@misc(inhuman,
  AUTHOR={Martin S Olivier},
  TITLE={Personal Privacy and Lyotard's Inhuman},
  HOWPUBLISHED={Unpublished essay},
  YEAR={2002} )

Full text

The full text may be downloaded from http://mo.co.za/open/inhuman.pdf (PDF, 42K).

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Last update: 31 December 2002