Date of Birth: January 4, 1932
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Date of Death: September 10, 2018
Biography
Paul Virilio was a French cultural theorist, urbanist, and writer known for his work on the concept of speed and its impact on society. Born on January 4, 1932, in Paris, France, Virilio became a prominent figure in the field of contemporary philosophy. He studied at the École des Métiers d’Art and later at the Sorbonne, where he developed an interest in phenomenology and architecture. Virilio’s career began in the late 1950s when he worked as an assistant to architect Henri Lefebvre. He then co-founded the Architecture Principe group with Claude Parent in 1963, where they developed the concept of the “oblique function,” advocating for slanted surfaces in architecture. His theoretical work extended beyond architecture into sociology, politics, and technology, leading to the publication of numerous influential books. His seminal works include “Speed and Politics” (1977), “The Aesthetics of Disappearance” (1980), and “The Information Bomb” (1998), where he explored the relationships between speed, technology, and society. Virilio was a professor at the École Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris and directed the institution from 1973 to 1975. He passed away on September 10, 2018, leaving behind a significant legacy in contemporary thought.
5 Interesting Facts about Paul Virilio
1. Paul Virilio coined the term “dromology,” the study of speed and its effects on society.
2. He served as a war correspondent during the Algerian War of Independence.
3. Virilio was deeply influenced by his experiences during World War II, particularly the German occupation of France.
4. He was a critic of the excessive reliance on technology and its potential to dehumanize society.
5. Virilio was awarded the Grand Prix National de la Critique Architecturale in 1987.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Paul Virilio
1. “When you invent the ship, you also invent the shipwreck.”
2. “The speed of light does not merely transform the world. It becomes the world. Globalization is the speed of light.”
3. “The essential problem is not so much technology as the tendency to substitute technology for human relationships.”
4. “History progresses at the speed of its weapons systems.”
5. “The invention of the ship was also the invention of the shipwreck.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Paul Virilio’s highest net worth was not widely publicized, but his influence and contributions to philosophy and cultural theory were invaluable.
Children
Paul Virilio had children, but specific information about them is not widely available in public records.
Relevant Links
1. [Paul Virilio on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Virilio
2. [Paul Virilio’s profile on The European Graduate School](https://egs.edu/biography/paul-virilio/
3. [Obituary in The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/sep/18/paul-virilio-obituary
4. [Paul Virilio’s works on Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL264192A/Paul_Virilio
5. [Paul Virilio’s books on Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10657.Paul_Virilio
