Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

The Other Side of Technology: Lacan and the Desire for the Purity of Non-Being

Cederström, Carl LU (2009) In Lund Studies in Economics and Management 111.
Abstract
Against the deeply ingrained belief that technology is instrumental and neutral, this thesis argues that our relation to technology is inextricably bound up with fantasies. But what is the nature of these fantasies and where do we find them? Are they strictly reserved to the domain of Science Fiction, or can we also find them in more mundane contexts, like the business organization?



These are some of the central questions of the present study. Combining the work of French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan with dominant perspectives within information systems research, this thesis offers an alternative perspective on technology in which fantasy, and not least a fantasy of non-being, plays a central role. With support from an... (More)
Against the deeply ingrained belief that technology is instrumental and neutral, this thesis argues that our relation to technology is inextricably bound up with fantasies. But what is the nature of these fantasies and where do we find them? Are they strictly reserved to the domain of Science Fiction, or can we also find them in more mundane contexts, like the business organization?



These are some of the central questions of the present study. Combining the work of French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan with dominant perspectives within information systems research, this thesis offers an alternative perspective on technology in which fantasy, and not least a fantasy of non-being, plays a central role. With support from an empirical case study these points are further contextualized and conceptually developed. The arguments that follow from this investigation have far-reaching consequences for studying information technology (IT), suggesting a turn towards more affective components involved in IT implementation and use. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Walsham, Geoff, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Lacan, psychoanalysis, information systems research, critique, fantasy
in
Lund Studies in Economics and Management
volume
111
pages
300 pages
publisher
Lund Business Press
defense location
EC2: 101, Holger Crafoords Ekonomicentrum, Tycho Brahes väg 1, Lund
defense date
2009-10-01 12:15:00
ISSN
0284-5075
ISBN
91-85113-37-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8ea80165-a2d2-4101-b56a-c3c8eef4cf20 (old id 1472265)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 10:49:24
date last changed
2019-05-21 19:07:40
@phdthesis{8ea80165-a2d2-4101-b56a-c3c8eef4cf20,
  abstract     = {{Against the deeply ingrained belief that technology is instrumental and neutral, this thesis argues that our relation to technology is inextricably bound up with fantasies. But what is the nature of these fantasies and where do we find them? Are they strictly reserved to the domain of Science Fiction, or can we also find them in more mundane contexts, like the business organization?<br/><br>
<br/><br>
These are some of the central questions of the present study. Combining the work of French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan with dominant perspectives within information systems research, this thesis offers an alternative perspective on technology in which fantasy, and not least a fantasy of non-being, plays a central role. With support from an empirical case study these points are further contextualized and conceptually developed. The arguments that follow from this investigation have far-reaching consequences for studying information technology (IT), suggesting a turn towards more affective components involved in IT implementation and use.}},
  author       = {{Cederström, Carl}},
  isbn         = {{91-85113-37-9}},
  issn         = {{0284-5075}},
  keywords     = {{Lacan; psychoanalysis; information systems research; critique; fantasy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Lund Business Press}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Lund Studies in Economics and Management}},
  title        = {{The Other Side of Technology: Lacan and the Desire for the Purity of Non-Being}},
  volume       = {{111}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}