17 October 2008

'...and fear that the instrumental logic of machines conceals a void of meaning.' (5) Factory for the Absolute

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"The Absolute at Large (Továrna na absolutno in the original Czech) [printed in translation as 'the Factory for the Absolute' (PT)] is a science fiction novel written by Czech author Karel Čapek in 1922.

The story centers on the invention of a reactor that can annihilate matter to produce cheap and abundant energy. Unfortunately, it produces something else as a by-product, the absolute. The absolute is a spiritual essence that according to some religious philosophies allegedly permeates all matter. It is associated with human religious experience, as the unsuspecting humanity is to find out all too soon in the story. The widespread adoption of the reactors cause an enormous outpouring of pure absolute into the world. This leads to an outburst of religious and nationalist fervor, causing the greatest, most global war in history... "

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