Prologue: Primal Distraction
Prologue: Primal Distraction
This chapter discusses the theme of this volume which is about the problem of primal distraction. This volume explores the history and meaning of distraction. It examines the relevant views of several philosophers including Aristotle, Franz Kafka, Martin Heidegger, Walter Benjamin and Jean de La Bruyère. This chapter defines distraction as a divided or hugely degraded attention and considers Jonathan Crary's argument that the emphasis on attention has arisen recently and for political reasons.
Keywords: distraction, Aristotle, Franz Kafka, Martin Heidegger, Walter Benjamin, Jean de La Bruyère, degraded attention, Jonathan Crary
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