Salecl Renata: Strast za neznanjem

Renata Salecl: Passion for ignorance

Man always knew how to find a way to close his eyes and ears. Ignorance, denial and ignoring are mechanisms that are important to understand in personal and social life, especially in crisis situations, which include trauma, violence, pandemics, but also the manipulative nature of the corporate world and government and social networks, which flood us with information and fake news. In principle, these are negative phenomena, but occasionally they can also be salutary, strategies on which the survival of individuals and communities depends. But in post-industrial, knowledge-based societies, ignorance has acquired a surprising new power. Although thanks to the development of genetics, neuroscience and research related to big data (big data), today more can be learned about an individual than ever before, with new types of information comes new anxieties caused by difficulties in understanding what this information means, as well as questions about who has access to it. 
Relying on philosophy, social and psychoanalytic theory, popular culture and her own experience, Renata Salecl in Passion for Ignorance explores the manifestations of this fundamental human passion in various aspects of modern life, from love, illness, trauma and fear of failure to genetics, forensic science, big data and the incel movement. It is an original and provocative questioning of our ability to ignore what disturbs us.

"A compelling and timely book that covers issues from genetics to fake news." – Nature

"At a time when fake news, propaganda, political rhetoric and confrontation dominate the media, Renata Salecl's analysis offers a new way of thinking about the decision to embrace ignorance and denial that each of us makes at some point." – Kirkus Reviews

"Greatly written and impressive." - The Philosopher

"In these times of information overload, it seems more than ever that many people want to close their eyes and embrace ignorance or denial. As Renata Salecl shows in her masterful book The Passion of Ignorance, this tendency is sometimes reinforced when people are faced with something that is too painful or difficult to understand." - Bernard E. Harcourt

"An excellently written account of the nature of ignorance that will reward many times the reader, whether interested in philosophy, sociology or computer science." – Information Research

"A book that must not be ignored passionately!" - Hanif Kureishi

"In this concise, elegant book, Renata Salecl documents and explores today's widespread passion for ignorance and how it operates on so many different personal and social levels. Written in an accessible, vivid style, the book analyzes our efforts to not know through a wide range of examples that touch the lives of most people. A fascinating read that expands our world of knowledge." – Darian Leader