Byung-Chul Han

This is a Korean name; the family name is Han. 2 Works

Byung-Chul Han, also spelled Pyŏng-ch'ŏl Han, (born In Fatigue Society (original German title: Die Müdigkeits-
1959 in Seoul) is a South Korean author, cultural theorist, gesellschaft), Han characterizes today’s society as a
and professor at the Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK) pathological landscape of neuronal disorders such
in Berlin. as depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,
borderline and burnout. He claims that they are not
“infections” but “infarcts”, which are not caused by the
negativity of people’s immunology, but by an excess of
positivity.[4]
Agonie des Eros (Agony of the Eros) carries Byung-
Chul Han’s thoughts, which he developed in his ear-
1 Life and work lier books Fatigue Society (German: Die Müdigkeitsge-
sellschaft) and Transparency Society (German: Trans-
parenzgesellschaft), forward and directs attention to one
Byung-Chul Han studied metallurgy in Korea before he another on the relationship of humans, on desire and love.
moved to Germany in the 1980s to study Philosophy, Based on an illuminating analysis of the characters in
German Literature and Catholic theology in Freiburg im Lars von Trier’s movie Melancholia, in which Han sees
Breisgau and Munich. He received his doctoral degree at depression and overcoming depicted, he develops – in his
Freiburg with a dissertation on Martin Heidegger in 1994. usual discursive manner – the image of a society that is
In 2000, he joined the Department of Philosophy at the increasingly dominated by narcissism and self-reference.
University of Basel, where he completed his Habilitation. Han’s diagnosis extends even to the point that he calls
In 2010 he became a faculty member at the HfG the loss of desire, the disappearance of the ability to de-
Karlsruhe, where his areas of interest were philoso- vote to “the other”, the stranger, the non-self. We re-
phy of the 18th, 19th and 20th century, ethics, social volve around ourselves, cramp us in ourselves, unable to
philosophy, phenomenology, cultural theory, aesthetics, build relationships. Even love and sexuality are perme-
religion, media theory, and intercultural philosophy. ated by this social change: sex and pornography, exhibi-
Since 2012 he teaches philosophy and cultural studies at tion and presentation are displacing love, eroticism and
the Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK), where he directs desire from the public eye. The abundance of positivity
the newly established Studium Generale general-studies and self-reference leads to a loss of confrontation. Think-
program.[1] ing, Han states, is based on the “untreaded”, on the de-
sire for something that one does not yet understand. It is
Han is the author of sixteen books, of which the most
connected to a high degree with Eros, so the “Agony of
recent are treatises on what he terms a “society of the Eros” is also an “Agony of Thought”. Not everything
tiredness” (Müdigkeitsgesellschaft), a “society of trans-
must be understood and “liked”, not everything must be
parency” (Transparenzgesellschaft), and on his neologist made available.
concept of shanzai, which seeks to identify modes of
deconstruction in contemporary practices of Chinese In Topologie der Gewalt (Topology of Violence), Byung-
capitalism. Chul Han continues his alarming analysis of a society on
the edge of collapse that he started with ›Müdigkeitsge-
Han’s current work focuses on transparency as a cultural sellschaft‹ (Fatigue Society). Focusing on the relation be-
norm created by neoliberal market forces, which he un- tween violence and individuality, he shows, that albeit the
derstands as the insatiable drive toward voluntary disclo- widespread thesis about its disappearance, violence has
sure bordering on the pornographic. According to Han, only changed its form of appearance and operates more
the dictates of transparency enforce a totalitarian system subtly. The martial form of violence gives way to a more
of openness at the expense of other social values such as anonymous, desubjectified, systemic one, that does not
shame, secrecy, and trust.[2] reveal itself, as it is merging with its antagonist – free-
Until recently, he refused to give radio and television in- dom. Through Sigmund Freud, Walter Benjamin, Carl
terviews and rarely divulges any biographical or personal Schmitt, Richard Sennett, René Girard, Giorgio Agam-
details, including his date of birth, in public.[3] ben, Deleuze/Guattari, Michel Foucault, Michel Serres,

1
2 5 SELECTED WORKS
Pierre Bourdieu and Martin Heidegger, Han approaches
his own concept of violence, that finds to work in free in-
dividuality. Driven by the only demand to persevere and
not to fail, as well as by the ambition of efficiency, we be-
come committers and sacrificers at the same time and get
into a swirl of demarcation, selfexploitation and collapse.
Han’s lucid study of violence offers plenty unorthodox
thoughts and is not afraid of critical scrutinizing common
in modern society concepts of freedom, individuality and
self-fulfillment, bringing to light their shady sides.
3 Themes
Han has written on topics such as attention deficit hyper-
activity disorder, borderline, burnout, depression,
exhaustion, internet, love, pop culture, power,
rationality, religion, social media, subjectivity, tiredness,
transparency and violence.
4 Reception
Müdigkeitsgesellschaft will soon be available in 11
languages.[5] Several Korean newspapers voted it to be
the most important book in 2012.[6]
5 Selected Works
• Heideggers Herz. Zum Begriff der Stimmung bei
Martin Heidegger. Wilhelm Fink, Paderborn 1999.
• Todesarten. Philosophische Untersuchungen zum
Tod. Wilhelm Fink, Paderborn 1999.
• Martin Heidegger. UTB, Stuttgart 1999.
• Tod und Alterität. Wilhelm Fink, Paderborn 2002.
• Philosophie des Zen-Buddhismus. Reclam, Stuttgart
2002.
• Was ist Macht. Reclam, Stuttgart 2005.
• Korean edition: . Moonji, 2009,
ISBN 9788976823335.
• Hyperkulturalität: Kultur und Globalisierung.
Merve, Berlin 2005.
• Hegel und die Macht. Ein Versuch über die Fre-
undlichkeit. Wilhelm Fink, Paderborn 2005.
• Gute Unterhaltung. Eine Dekonstruktion der
abendländischen Passionsgeschichte. Verlag Vorw-
erk 8, Berlin 2007.
• Abwesen: Zur Kultur und Philosophie des Fernen Os-
tens. Merve, Berlin 2007.
• Duft der Zeit: Ein philosophischer Essay zur Kunst
des Verweilens. Transkript 2009.
• Korean edition: . Moonji, 2010,
ISBN 9788932023960.
• Müdigkeitsgesellschaft Matthes & Seitz, Berlin
2010, ISBN 978-3-88221-616-5.
• Brazilian edition: in progress, Vozes.
• Danish edition: Træthedssamfundet. Møller,
2012, ISBN 9788799404377.
• Dutch edition: De vermoeide samenleving. van
gennep, 2012, ISBN 9789461640710.
• English edition: in progress, Stanford UP.
• French edition: La Société de la fatigue, édi-
tion circé, 2014, ISBN 978-2842423568.[7]
• Greek edition: in progress, Editions Opera.
• Italian edition: La società della stanchezza.
nottetempo, 2012, ISBN 978-88-7452-345-0.
• Korean edition: . Moonji, 2011, ISBN
9788932023960.
• Macedonian edition: in progress, Tabahon.
• Portuguese edition: in progress, Relógio
D'Água Editores.
• Romanian edition: in progress, Humanitas.
• Spanish edition: La sociedad del cansancio.
Barcelona, Herder Editorial, 2012, ISBN 978-
84-254-2868-5.
• Swedish edition: Trötthetssamhället. Ersatz,
2013, ISBN 978-91-87219-62-7.
• Taiwanese edition: in progress, Locus.
• Turkish edition: in progress, Pinar Yayinlari.
• Shanzhai - Dekonstruktion auf Chinesisch.
Merve, Berlin 2011, ISBN 978-3-88396-294-8.
• Topologie der Gewalt. Matthes & Seitz, Berlin 2011,
ISBN 978-3-88221-495-6.
• Korean edition: in progress, Moonji.
• Turkish edition: in progress, Metis.
• Transparenzgesellschaft. Matthes & Seitz, Berlin
2012, ISBN 978-3-88221-595-3.
• Dutch edition: De transparente samenleving.
van gennep, 2012, ISBN 9789461641892.
• English edition: in progress, Stanford UP.
• Greek edition: in progress, Editions Opera.
• Italien edition: in progress, nottetempo.
• Korean edition: "" "", Moonji, 2014,
ISBN 9788932026114.
• Portuguese edition: in progress, Relógio
D'Água Editores.
 3

• Romanian edition: in progress, Humanitas. 6 References

• Russian edition: in progress, Logos.
[1] “Studium Generale”.
• Spanish edition: La sociedad de la transparen-
cia. Barcelona, Herder Editorial, 2013, ISBN [2] “Klarheit schaffen”. der Freitag. 2012-06-07. Retrieved
9788425432521. 2012-06-09.

[3] “Play more and work less: A visit with Byung-Chul Han
• Agonie des Eros. Matthes & Seitz, Berlin 2012, in Karlsruhe”. Sign and Sight. 2011-07-25. Retrieved
ISBN 978-3-88221-973-9. 2012-06-09.

• Dutch edition: in progress, van gennep. [4] "‘ ’1 ‘ ’". .

2012-11-29.
• French edition: in progress, Autrement.
[5] “Translations”.
• Italian edition: Eros in agonia. nottetempo,
2013, ISBN 9788874524235. [6] “Korea’s Most Important Books 2012”.

• Korean edition: in progress, Moonji.
• Portuguese edition: in progress, Relógio
D'Água Editores.
• Romanian edition: Agonia erosului, Human-
itas, ISBN 978-973-50-4326-1, EPUB/PDF
ISBN 978-973-50-4466-4.
• Spanish edition: La agonía del Eros.
Barcelona, Herder Editorial, 2014. ISBN
978-84-254-3254-5.
• Bitte Augen schließen. Auf der Suche nach einer
anderen Zeit. Matthes & Seitz Berlin 2013 ebook,
ISBN 978-3-88221-064-4.
• Digitale Rationalität und das Ende des kommunika-
tiven Handelns. Matthes & Seitz Berlin 2013, ISBN
978-3-88221-066-8.
• Italian edition: Razionalità Digitale. La fine
dell'agire comunicativo. GoWare edizioni,
2014, ISBN 978-88-6797-145-9
[7] (French)Byung-Chul Han - La Société de la fatigue, Tra-
duction de l'allemand par Julie Stroz on editions-circe.fr
7 External links
• Literature by and about Byung-Chul Han in the
German National Library catalogue
• Byung-Chul Han’s web page at the Staatliche
Hochschule für Gestaltung, Karlsruhe
• http://www.udk-berlin.de/sites/content/themen/
universitaet/studium_generale/
• Byung-Chul Han, Essay on the ethics of drones:
http://www.matthes-seitz-berlin.de/artikel/
byung-chul-han-die-ethik-des-drohnenkriegs.html
• Interview with Byung-Chul Han in the Sued-
deutsche Zeitung: http://sz-magazin.sueddeutsche.
de/texte/anzeigen/39059

• Im Schwarm. Ansichten des Digitalen. Matthes &

Seitz Berlin 2013, ISBN 978-3-88221-037-8.

• Spanish edition: En el enjambre. Barcelona,

Herder Editorial, 2014, ISBN 978-84-254-
3368-9.
• French edition: in progress, Actes Sud.
• Italian edition: in progress, nottetempo.
• Swedish edition: I svärmen. Tankar om det
digitala . Stockholm, Ersatz, 2014. ISBN 978-
91-87219-76-4.

• Psychopolitik: Neoliberalismus und die neuen Macht-

techniken (Essay Collection). S. Fischer Verlag
Frankfurt 2014 ISBN 978-3100022035.

• Spanish edition: Psicopolítica. Barcelona,

Herder Editorial, 2014, ISBN 978-84-254-
3368-9.
4 8 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

8 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

8.1 Text
• Byung-Chul Han Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byung-Chul%20Han?oldid=647928082 Contributors: Gabbe, BD2412, Bgwhite,
Nikkimaria, David Ludwig, Not Sure, Galadrien, Mycomp, Calusarul, SchreiberBike, Addbot, DSisyphBot, ZéroBot, Betweenfloors, He-
dian, Tony3512, BG19bot, CityOfSilver, Mogism, Arev Schneider, EMBViki, Gazophylacium, EmanuM, Db9023, Sophia-ka, Khw0302,
Al-Juarismi, GAdrev and Anonymous: 14

8.2 Images

8.3 Content license

• Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0