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History of Ideas 11: Umberto Eco
Jan 4, 2024
Discover Umberto Eco's analysis of Wikileaks and the concept of scandal. Explore the challenges of maintaining secrecy in the digital age and the power of shaping information. Learn about the relationship between Julian Assange and Andrew O'Hagan and the significance of Wikileaks in exposing hidden information.
50:35
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- Umberto Eco argues that Wikileaks revealed fake scandals rather than genuine secrets, as the leaked information was already known or evident in the public domain.
- In the digital age, the sheer volume of information and confirmation bias make it challenging to discern genuinely new information and the digital revolution has reinforced existing power structures rather than ushering in transparency and democracy.
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Umberto Ecos' Career and Themes
Umberto Eco, although best known for his novel 'The Name of the Rose,' was primarily an academic and essayist, writing extensively about literature, philosophy, and semiotics. His work often focused on signs, symbols, and language, exploring how they reveal and conceal truth. Eco believed that language and the world built around it are difficult to interpret transparently. He became fascinated with the false promise of the digital revolution, particularly regarding transparency and openness. His interest in signs and symbols led him to write an essay about Wikileaks, which he viewed as a fake scandal, as it revealed information already known and did not expose genuine secrets.
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