philosophy-of-time

Part 4 of 'Trump Sky Alpha' shifts from psychological realism to a fragmented, philosophical exploration of technology, history, and resistance. It introduces the Aviary, a hacker group opposing the expansion and totalizing power of the internet, symbolized by a one-legged bird that rejects internet protocols in favor of freedom. The chapter intertwines historical events, technological milestones, and speculative activism, culminating in the revelation that the fictional Aviary inspired a real-world group with similar goals and symbolism.

In the preface, Yuk Hui reflects on his intellectual journey from his teenage fascination with Neo-Confucian cosmogony and astrophysics to his engagement with Western philosophy and contemporary thought. He describes how encounters with philosophers like Keiji Nishitani and Bernard Stiegler helped him approach the question of technology through the lens of time, leading to his formulation of 'cosmotechnics'—the idea that multiple technics exist ontologically and cosmologically, not just functionally or aesthetically. Hui also expresses gratitude to numerous scholars and institutions that supported his work.