CHE Environmental Colloquium – Mechanical Angels: Satellites, Cosmology, and Capitalism

Speaker: Frédéric Neyrat, Professor, Department of English, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Satellite orbits form an exo-geological layer, a deterritorialization of the planet Earth, where the limits and possible futures of technology are tested. This talk aims to shed light on these futures: Either satellites will remain essential elements for the development of AI capitalism, i.e., surveillance, control, and prediction of behavior, or they might become Earth’s peripheral guardian angels. What are the mechanisms for conjuring the angelic powers of satellites?

Neyrat is a French philosopher with an expertise in environmental humanities, technology studies, and contemporary theory.

Date

April 9, 2025    

Time

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Location

140 Science Hall
550 N. Park Street, Madison