Heidegger and the object

Levinas refutes the Heideggerian notion that the existents in our lives, whether they be bread, hammers, pens, etc. are simply tools, or “means of life.”

Levinas claims that, though we might need such tools, they are actually enjoyed.

This is the beginning of the concept he calls “living from…” Levinas claims, in opposition to the Heideggerian school of thought, that “existence is not exhausted by utilitarian schematism that delineates (existents) as having the existence of hammers, needles, or machines. They are always in a certain measure– and even the hammers, needles, and machines are objects of enjoyment…” says Levinas.

But according to Clark, this is simply wrong. Heidegger doesn’t think in the least that utility exhausts existence. Rather looking at how objects are encountered in one kind of relationship allows an existential analysis. There are other sorts of analysis – some hinted at – beyond what the focus is in Being and Time. And indeed the latter Heidegger often delves into those. (IMO) Now it is true that Heidegger argues that one way (perhaps the most important way) we encounter entities is through a break down of utility. The ready-at-hand allowing the present-at-hand to be presented to us.

However to suggest the only way to be with other occurrent entities is via utility is just plain wrong.

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Jean-Philippe Pastor

Why automated search tools ?

Hypertext's original idea was to take advantage of electronic data processing to organize large quantities of information that would otherwise overwhelm a reader.

Two hundred years ago, the printing press made possible a similar innovation - the encyclopedia. Hypertext's older cousin combined topical articles with an indexing system to afford the researcher one or perhaps two orders of magnitude increase in the volume of accessible information. Early experience with hypertext suggests that it may ultimately yield an additional order of magnitude increase, by making directly accessible information that would otherwise be relegated to a bibliography. Hypertext's limiting factor appears not to be the physical size of some books, but rather the ability of the reader to navigate increasingly complex search structures.

Currently, additional increases in human information processing ability seem tied to developing more sophisticated automated search tools, though the present technology presents possibilities that remain far from fully explored.

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-Jean-Philippe Pastor

What is Smashwords?

Smashwords is a digital self-publishing platform for independent ebook authors.

Authors retain full control over how their works are published, sampled, priced and sold. If an author wants to charge one dollar or ten thousand dollars, or give it away for free, they have that freedom.

What does Smashwords offer readers? Smashwords is a virtual playground for those who love the written word. Readers can sample most works for free (and in many cases, read over 50% of the book before they commit to a purchase decision); create digital libraries of purchased and sampled works; publish reviews (including YouTube video book reviews); and “favorite” their favorite authors and works.

What marketing tools does Smashwords offer authors and publishers?

Smashwords offers multiple marketing tools to help authors and publishers connect with readers. We offer the industry’s broadest range of sampling options; author pages with bios, headshots and lists of works; embedded YouTube videos for video book trailers and virtual author events; reviews from readers; ebook downloads in multiple ebook formats; and dozens of additional tools in the works.

What is an ebook, and how do I read these books?

Ebooks are digital books. The ebooks on Smashwords can be read online using our online readers, or they can be downloaded to other reading devices such as the the Amazon Kindle, Sony Reader or IRex Iliad, or to smart phones such as the iPhone or Treo. Once purchased, Smashwords books can be downloaded and printed on your PC or viewed offline. Smashwords offers generous sampling options so readers can try before they buy. For many books that are for sale on the site, you can read over 50% of it online, for free.

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PHONEREADER Library - - Jean-Philippe Pastor

Ebook content tools

Today, Adobe unveiled new versions of its two major eBook content tools, Content Server 4 and Digital Edition 1.6, both of which will be released on September 22.

Content Server 4 is an update of Adobe’s server software that allows publishers, retailers and libraries to sell and distribute e-books. (Content Server 3 will be discontinued upon the release of version 4.) Digital Editions 1.6 is Adobe’s client software for buying, managing and reading e-books—like iTunes for e-books—that has been updated to support the new features in Content Server 4.

The new software will support EPUB, PDF and Adobe DRM file formats, making it compatible with a wide range of distribution channels and devices, such as the Sony Reader. It’s a distributed system, meaning some services will be handled by the consumer, while others will be handled by Adobe. The consumers’ systems will handle packaging and encryption of the content as a PDF or EPUB file, as well as determination of what kind of permissions to grant users. Adobe’s servers will handle the software’s initial activation and licensing for each book the client sells. Content Server 4 will also be set up to enable libraries and other lending institutions to create short-term licenses.
After an initial activation fee of $6,500 Content Server 4 consumers will have to pay an annual subscription plus a small Pay-Per-Use licensing fee for each purchase made through the system.

Morgan Teicher

Download ebooks on http://www.frenchtheory.com/ - See that post with different algorithms in metabole - See the journal French Metablog with today different posts - Jean-Philippe Pastor

MetaBook

When we use books to study books, or hard copy texts to analyze other hard copy texts, the scale of the tools seriously limits the possible results.

In studying the physical world, for example, it makes a great difference if the level of the analysis is experiential (direct) or mathematical (abstract). In a similar way, electronic tools in literary studies don't simply provide a new point of view on the materials, they lift one's general level of attention to a higher order. The difference between the codex and the electronic Oxford English Dictionary provides a simple but eloquent illustration of this. The electronic OED is a meta-book, i.e., it has consumed everything that the codex OED provides and reorganized it at a higher level. It is a research tool with greater powers of consciousness. As a result, the electronic OED can be read as a book or it can be used electronically.

In the latter case it will generate readerly views of its information that cannot be had in the codex OED without unacceptable expenditures of time and labor (from Jerome Mc Gann)

Download ebooks on http://www.frenchtheory.com/

See that post with different algorithms in metabole

See the journal French Metablog with today different posts