Paperback. One of the most distinctive cultural phenomena of recent years has been the rise and rise of fame. In this book, Mark Rowlands argues that our obsession with fame has transformed it. Fame was once associated with excellence or achievement in some or other field of endeavour. But today we are obsessed with something that is, in effect, quite different: fame unconnected with any discernible distinction, fame that allows a person to be famous simply for being famous. This book shows why this new fame is simultaneously fascinating and worthless. To understand this new form of fame, Rowlands maintains, we have to engage in an extensive philosophical excavation that takes us back to a dispute that began in ancient Greece between Plato and Protagoras, and was carried on in a remarkable philosophical experiment that began in eighteenth-century France. Somewhat like contestants on a reality TV show, today we find ourselves, unwittingly, playing out the consequences of this experiment. Fame was once associated with excellence or achievement in some or other field of endeavour. One of the most distinctive cultural phenomena over the years has been the rise and rise of fame. This book shows why this new fame is simultaneously fascinating and worthless. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9781844651573

Contact seller

Report this item

Bibliographic Details

Title: Fame (Paperback)

Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd, Durham

Publication Date: 2008

Binding: Paperback

Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis:

One of the most distinctive cultural phenomena of recent years has been the rise and rise of fame. In this book, Mark Rowlands argues that our obsession with fame has transformed it. Fame was once associated with excellence or achievement in some or other field of endeavour. But today we are obsessed with something that is, in effect, quite different: fame unconnected with any discernible distinction, fame that allows a person to be famous simply for being famous. This book shows why this new fame is simultaneously fascinating and worthless. To understand this new form of fame, Rowlands maintains, we have to engage in an extensive philosophical excavation that takes us back to a dispute that began in ancient Greece between Plato and Protagoras, and was carried on in a remarkable philosophical experiment that began in eighteenth-century France. Somewhat like contestants on a reality TV show, today we find ourselves, unwittingly, playing out the consequences of this experiment.

About the Author:

Mark Rowlands is professor of philosophy at the University of Miami. His books include The Philosopher at the End of the Universe and Everything I Know I Learned From TV.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

Online business

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

ABC BOOKS LIMITED
10 John Street, London, WC1N 2EB, United Kingdom

Terms of Sale:

Orders can be returned within 30 days of receipt.

Shipping Terms:

Please note that titles are dispatched from our US, Canadian or Australian warehouses. Delivery times specified in shipping terms. Orders ship within 2 business days. Delivery to your door then takes 7-14 days.

Payment Methods
accepted by seller

Visa Mastercard American Express Apple Pay Google Pay

Add to Wants