Document Type : Research Paper

Author

• Kiarash Sheikholeslam

PhD of Philosophy, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The postmodern condition is a cultural situation in which contemporary man lives. This cultural situation can be considered from different standpoints. This article tries to investigate the postmodern condition in connection with the cyber. It will explain that in our time, like all past ages, culture and technology have reciprocal connection and interact intimately. The interaction of postmodern culture and cyber technologies has led to a crisis in Theology and even in regard to the seminal openness towards the divine. The ultimate goal of the present article is to explain what this crisis is. The importance of this explanation lies in the fact that in order to overcome a crisis, we must first gain a correct and sufficient knowledge of it. We will see that the interaction of postmodernity and the cyber has led to the emergence of hyperreality and will ultimately lead to what we call a leveled Being. Taking advantage of the precious heritage of Persian literature, and referring to an allegory from Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, we will try to show why hyperreality can be equated with what Ferdowsi calls sarā_e_derang (the "deferment abode.") This similarity will make it easier for the Persian-speaking reader to understand the current crisis in the world.

Keywords

• the postmodern condition
• the cyber
• hyperreality
• sarā_e_derang (deferment abode)
• leveled Being

Main Subjects

• philosophy