Welcome to Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art,

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art ›› 2015, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (1): 84-97.

• Issue in Focus: McLuhan: Media and Aesthetics • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Technology and Perception: An Inter-Pretation of McLuhan, Heisenberg and Zhuangzi

Jin Huimin   

  1. Shaanxi Normal University (Xi'an 710119, China),Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (Beijing 100732, China)
  • Online:2015-01-25 Published:2015-04-04
  • About author:Jin Huimin, is the Qujiang Chair Professor at Shaanxi Normal University (Xi'an 710119, China), and a Chair Professor at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (Beijing 100732, China), with numerous articles and over a dozen of books in Chinese and other languages in the fields of literary and cultural theory, aesthetics and philosophy.

Abstract: This paper's analysis is based on McLuhan's reference and comments to Heisenberg and Zhuangzi, and focuses on the theme of technology and perception, aiming at an inter-pretation (intertextual interpretation) of the three thinkers. The paper argues that McLuhan goes directly to the unified field of subjecthood by way of electronic media while Heisenberg hovers between the unified fields of subjecthood and of objecthood. Unlike McLuhan and Heisenberg, Zhuangzi is neither subjective nor objective, but enters Dao, the world itself, by sensibility. However, for all of the three, modern technology may lead to aesthetics, that is, there is an aesthetic dimension inherent in modern technology.

Key words: McLuhan, Heisenberg, Zhuangzi, Unified Field, Perception, Aesthetics