The shame of being human: (soon)

Abstract

The essay «The shame of being human» offers a critical analysis of contemporary society through the ideas of Gilles Deleuze, Bernard Stiegler, Gilbert Simondon, and Martin Heidegger. It begins with Primo Levi’s expression, later adopted by Deleuze, to describe a form of shame linked not only to historical catastrophes but also to the banality of thought and the mechanisms of control characteristic of global capitalism. Drawing on Stiegler’s concept of “symbolic misery,” the text examines how hyperindustrial society, supported by communication technologies and consumer culture, promotes the homogenization of consciousness and the loss of individuation. The author explores the role of technology, audiovisual media, and cultural objects in shaping human experience, emphasizing the tension between singularity and standardization. The essay argues that contemporary forms of symbolic impoverishment weaken collective and individual identities. In response, it advocates the search for new cultural, political, and philosophical forms of resistance and critical engagement.