Humanity and Uncontrollability

Focusing on the work of Hartmut Rosa, this book provides an in-depth account of the extent to which we, as humans, are obliged to face up to the uncontrollability of the world. Rosa is widely regarded as one of the most original contemporary European social theorists. Along with the concepts of acceleration, alienation, and resonance, the notion of uncontrollability [Unverfgbarkeit] ranks among the most important reference points in Rosas critical theory, especially in his recent work. It is no accident, then, that following his extensive inquiries into acceleration and alienation and the publication of his magnum opus on resonance Rosa has found it necessary to offer a brief, but powerful, account of the place occupied by the concept of uncontrollability in his critical theory. The first half of this book comprises a detailed outline of Rosas central arguments on uncontrollability, before moving, in the second half, to a thorough assessment of the most significant limitations of his approach. This book will appeal to students and scholars of the social sciences and humanities particularly to those interested in social theory, social philosophy, and the history of ideas.