Narcocapitalism

Life in the Age of Anaesthesia

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, History, Criticism, & Surveys
Cover of the book Narcocapitalism by Laurent de Sutter, Wiley
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Laurent de Sutter ISBN: 9781509506873
Publisher: Wiley Publication: November 27, 2017
Imprint: Polity Language: English
Author: Laurent de Sutter
ISBN: 9781509506873
Publisher: Wiley
Publication: November 27, 2017
Imprint: Polity
Language: English

What do the invention of anaesthetics in the middle of the nineteenth century, the Nazis' use of cocaine, and the development of Prozac have in common? The answer is that they're all products of the same logic that defines our contemporary era: 'the age of anaesthesia'. Laurent de Sutter shows how large aspects of our lives are now characterised by the management of our emotions through drugs, ranging from the everyday use of sleeping pills to hard narcotics. Chemistry has become so much a part of us that we can’t even see how much it has changed us.

In this era, being a subject doesn't simply mean being subjected to powers that decide our lives: it means that our very emotions have been outsourced to chemical stimulation. Yet we don't understand why the drugs that we take are unable to free us from fatigue and depression, and from the absence of desire that now characterizes our psychopolitical condition. We have forgotten what it means to be excited because our only excitement has become drug-induced. We have to abandon the narcotic stimulation that we’ve come to rely on and find a way back to the collective excitement that is narcocapitalism’s greatest fear.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

What do the invention of anaesthetics in the middle of the nineteenth century, the Nazis' use of cocaine, and the development of Prozac have in common? The answer is that they're all products of the same logic that defines our contemporary era: 'the age of anaesthesia'. Laurent de Sutter shows how large aspects of our lives are now characterised by the management of our emotions through drugs, ranging from the everyday use of sleeping pills to hard narcotics. Chemistry has become so much a part of us that we can’t even see how much it has changed us.

In this era, being a subject doesn't simply mean being subjected to powers that decide our lives: it means that our very emotions have been outsourced to chemical stimulation. Yet we don't understand why the drugs that we take are unable to free us from fatigue and depression, and from the absence of desire that now characterizes our psychopolitical condition. We have forgotten what it means to be excited because our only excitement has become drug-induced. We have to abandon the narcotic stimulation that we’ve come to rely on and find a way back to the collective excitement that is narcocapitalism’s greatest fear.

More books from Wiley

Cover of the book Leading the Fundraising Charge by Laurent de Sutter
Cover of the book Building Dependable Distributed Systems by Laurent de Sutter
Cover of the book Trading Plans Made Simple by Laurent de Sutter
Cover of the book Principles of Mathematics by Laurent de Sutter
Cover of the book Extreme Events by Laurent de Sutter
Cover of the book Sedimentary Rocks in the Field by Laurent de Sutter
Cover of the book Introductory Quantum Mechanics for Applied Nanotechnology by Laurent de Sutter
Cover of the book The Revenue Growth Habit by Laurent de Sutter
Cover of the book Noise Control by Laurent de Sutter
Cover of the book Simple Tools and Techniques for Enterprise Risk Management by Laurent de Sutter
Cover of the book Acute Medicine by Laurent de Sutter
Cover of the book Public-Sector Project Management by Laurent de Sutter
Cover of the book Sustainable Development in the Process Industries by Laurent de Sutter
Cover of the book Business Models for the Social Mobile Cloud by Laurent de Sutter
Cover of the book The Advantage, Enhanced Edition by Laurent de Sutter
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy