Former Google advertising strategist, now Oxford-trained philosopher James Williams launches a plea to society and to the tech industry to help ensure that the technology we all carry with us every day does not distract us from pursuing our true goals in life. As information becomes ever more plentiful, the resource that is becoming more scarce is our attention. In this 'attention economy', we need to recognise the fundamental impacts of our new information environment on our lives in order to take back control. Drawing on insights ranging from Diogenes to contemporary tech leaders, Williams's thoughtful and impassioned analysis is sure to provoke discussion and debate. Williams is the inaugural winner of the Nine Dots Prize, a new Prize for creative thinking that tackles contemporary social issues. This title is also available as Open Access.
Former Google advertising strategist, now Oxford-trained philosopher James Williams launches a plea to society and to the tech industry to help ensure that the technology we all carry with us every day does not distract us from pursuing our true goals in life. As information becomes ever more plentiful, the resource that is becoming more scarce is our attention. In this 'attention economy', we need to recognise the fundamental impacts of our new information environment on our lives in order to take back control. Drawing on insights ranging from Diogenes to contemporary tech leaders, Williams's thoughtful and impassioned analysis is sure to provoke discussion and debate. Williams is the inaugural winner of the Nine Dots Prize, a new Prize for creative thinking that tackles contemporary social issues. This title is also available as Open Access.
1. Philosophy for trolls; Part I. Distraction by Design: 2. The faulty GPS; 3. The age of attention; 4. Bring your own boundaries; 5. Empires of the mind; Part II. Clicks against Humanity: 6. The citizen is the product; 7. The spotlight; 8. The starlight; 9. The daylight; Part III. Freedom of Attention: 10. The ground of first struggle; 11. The monster and the bank; 12. Marginal people on marginal time; 13. The brightest heaven of invention.
Argues that human freedom is threatened by systems of intelligent persuasion developed by tech giants who compete for our time and attention. This title is also available as Open Access.
James Williams is currently a doctoral candidate at the Oxford Internet Institute and Balliol College, University of Oxford, where he researches the philosophy and ethics of attention and persuasion as they relate to technology design. Prior to that he worked for over ten years at Google, where he received the Founders' Award - the company's highest honour - for his work on advertising products and tools.
'A very insightful and perceptive analysis of one of the crucial
issues of our age: how we spend our time in the infosphere. It will
be the starting point for anyone who wishes to create a better
future.' Luciano Floridi, University of Oxford
'In the Arab Spring, technology helped us topple a dictator - and
then it tore us apart. The competition for attention poses a
fundamental problem for today's society, and no one has gone deeper
into this issue than James Williams. If you care about the future
of society, pay attention to this book.' Wael Ghonim, internet
activist
'Passionate, provocative, personal and funny! Drawing on philosophy
and video games, ancient literature and current science, Stand out
of our Light helps us to see what's currently happening to the
human experience and how we can take back control.' David Runciman,
University of Cambridge
'On the contemporary attention crisis, there is no writer who has
thought deeper on it than Williams. His pivotal insight is the
recognition that attention is the fuel of our lives, the ingredient
essential to any self-chosen goal. Reading this refreshing and
rejuvenating book will make you think hard about how life should be
lived.' Tim Wu, Columbia University, New York
'A landmark book.' The Observer
'Mr Williams compares the current design of our technology to 'an
entire army of jets and tanks' aimed at capturing and keeping our
attention. And the army is winning. We spend the day transfixed by
our screens, thumb twitching in the subways and elevators, glancing
at traffic lights.' The New York Times
'Stand Out of Our Light is a prime example of philosophy at its
most illuminating.' Achas Burin, Balliol College Annual Record 2018
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