Double-ness is Western-ness:--i.e. the mark of our Civilisation Athenean philosophy: Plato & Artistotle circa 500 C. BC. —

The World of Appearance is supported by a (non-appearing) World of Reality: “the Forms” Permanence—vs—Change

Roman Empire: philosophy of Stoicism emotion-vs-reason: balance & control

The Will must agree with Nature Christianity: City of God and City of Man

St. Augustine: Civitas Dei

Interpenetration, co-existence, difference

Non-Western: unitary Japanese: single-ness; One-ness;

difference is dissolved: e.g. suffering is maya=illusion

Islamic Civilisation: Allah is One, therefore all is one. politics, economics, family, education, clothing

Doubleness suggests ‘other-than-Allah’, therefore blasphemous. Idolatry is capital crime; Ikon is capital crime (Islam is

iconoclastic); even representation is a capital crime.

Double-ness in the West External (General)

Evil & Good Chaos & Order Governed & Governors Bourgeoisie &

Proletariat (Marx) Savagery &

Civilisation /Death and Survival (Darwin)

Internal:

Body and Soul Private and Public Vice and Virtue Desire and Self-Control Conscious and

Subconscious

Doubles Literature (Art) as a mirror

Reflects back what the reader—or the reader’s times—shows to the mirror.

Reveals what the subject presents to its objects, but can’t see for him or her self.

Steampunk:(from ‘cyberpunk’)

Golem: (גולם ) Hebrew legend Creature built from matter

& animated In Medieval folklore, a

protector of Jews during porgoms

Religious & Alchemic Obvious precurser to:

Frankenstein Cloning Eugenics

Doppelgänger: ‘double-goer’ A ghostly double of

oneself Prefiguration of impending

evil, misfortune or death Mary Shelley’s husband

famously saw his before death

Transmigration of soul http://totallylookslike.com

A reason for Victorian “doubles” “Amputation” (Marshall

McLuhan, 1911-1980) Technology:

the extentions of man Technology is the

amputation, by science, of human attributes into external devices and creations

We then confront our second-selves

Stages of Amputation1. Literacy

speech & memory

2. Industrialisation Hands, arms, legs

Computerisation Nervous system

Science is ‘amputator’ Dr. Frankenstein Dr. Jekyll Confronts us with ‘evil’

doubles / creations

Douglas Coupland: Duality An icon of surrender

and prayer: seen on the wall of a non-denominational chapel in an American airport

A sign of Faith

Douglas Coupland: DualityFaith = Doubt

Phillip K. Dick: 1928-1982 Either genius or madman

(probably both.) Blade Runner Minority Report Total Recall A Scanner Darkly

Stories of alienated, paranoid, identity-deprived man in technological society

Marshall McLuhan Each technology is an extension of man. Each technology is an amplification of man.

e.g. wheels are extensions of legs e.g. Industrial Machinery are amplifications of bodies

Each extension is also an amputation of the extended human aspect .

When we look at our amputated Self we are: Enraptured (Messiah): Metropolis Frightened

The result is alienation

Marshall McLuhan, Cont’1. Amputated bodies—

machines—are designed as servants to man.

2. Men fix and tend and feed machines: the continued smooth running of the machinery becomes imperative.

3. So, which is servant and which is master?

Narcissus: Double-Self: numbnessAt the start of our civilisation. The Greek god Narcissus sees

his double—his reflection—in a pond and ‘falls in love’ (becomes numbed and immobile) ... and drowns in the pond.

‘Narcissus’= “narcotic” The same behavior as a gaming

addict....

We are numb at the sight of our amputated Self.