Pierre Musso and the Network Society

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This book explores the views of Pierre Musso, featuring a central chapter by him titled "Network Ideology: from Saint-Simonianism to the Internet." Musso, a notable French philosopher, critiques information and communication technologies through their social and imaginary representations, focusing on the network metaphor's significance in understanding complex societies. He meticulously traces the genealogy of the network imaginary, revealing that its origins predate the Internet, linking it to figures like Henri de Saint-Simon and his followers, who were instrumental in developing channel networks, railroads, and telegraph systems in 19th-century France. Alongside Musso's central piece, the book includes a general introduction and six expert commentaries on information technologies and networks. These contributions offer a diverse range of perspectives from authors with various nationalities, universities, and disciplinary backgrounds, enriching the discourse surrounding the implications of the network society.