the gaze

Suck #5, 1971, cover, design by Anthon Beeke, from Pierre Ponant’s private collection

essay

by BYUNG-CHUL HAN

 

German-Korean philosopher Byung-Chul Han has written extensively on technological dominance, digital culture, sexuality, violence, and mental health. His latest work, “The Spirit of Hope”, 2024, explores hope as an antidote to fear and despair.

 

At the beginning of the twentieth century, a German horse gained fame the world over. Supposedly, the animal could perform mathematical calculations. The horse achieved renown as “Clever Hans.” With a move of the hoof or head, he provided correct answers to simple exercises. When asked, “What is three plus five?,” he stamped eight times, for instance. To clarify this wondrous phenomenon, a committee of scientists was appointed; it’s said that its ranks included a philosopher. The committee determined that the horse could not, in fact, perform calculations. Instead, the animal was able…