From Autonomy to Ambiguity

Bart van der Sloot, Tilburg University, the Netherlands

‘This book grounds a critique of information technology regulation in psychological and humanistic understandings of human behavior. Van der Sloot argues that a limited rationalistic conception of humanity and autonomy has resulted in an over-emphasis on transparency and consent. Successful regulation, he suggests, must wrestle with a more nuanced conception of humanity. We value rationality and autonomy, but also struggles with willpower, limited capacity, and competing priorities. Our behavior is intensely contigency on our societies and experiences. While van der Sloot does not suggest that the path to more realistic regulation is obvious or simple, he provides specific and provocative suggestions and ideas. Equally importantly, the book encourages readers to join in re-imagining our legal relationship to information technology in a way that acknowledges the ambiguity of the human condition.’

• ContentsPART I SETTING THE STAGE1 The end of this book PART II THE PERFECT IMPERFECTION OF IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION2 The call of the sirens 3 Ashamed of being ashamed4 Playing ourselves 5 Trauma, memory, identity 6 Violence, narrative, motive 7 Privacy and ambiguity PART III THE PRESENTATION OF SELF IN EVERYDAY DIGITAL LIFE8 Stating the obvious 9 Form and function of self-narration 10 Friction and recognition 11 Digital animism, or the Homo Economicus in an increasingly magical world 11012 Shameless guilt tripping 13 Too much information PART IV LAW IN QUEST OF ITSELF14 Right to ecology 15 Right to porosity 16 Right to contextuality 17 Right to fiction18 Right to friction 19 Right to dependency PART V REFLECTIVE FORETHOUGHTS 20 Fork in the road