Vilém Flusser​

Born in Prague in 1920, Vilém Flusser began his studies in philosophy at Prague University in 1939. He emigrated to London in 1940, and to São Paulo in 1941, where he continued and completed his education. Parallel to his philosophical and scientific activities, he was manager of a factory for electronic transformers, continuing in that position until 1961.

His first articles on linguistics and philosophy were published in 1961 in the “Suplemento Liter rio do Estado de São Paulo,” to which he has contributed ever since. In 1962, he became a member of the Brazilian Institute of Philosophy, and was appointed professor of the philosophy of communications at FAAP (School of Communications and Humanities) in São Paulo. He became co-editor of the Brazilian Philosophical review in 1964. In 1966, he was appointed special delegate of the Brazilian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, for cultural cooperation with the United States and Europe. His essays have appeared in numerous American and European journals. In 1972, he moved to Italy, and to France in 1976.

His most important books include “Lingua e Realidade” (São Paulo, 1963), “A História do Diabo” (São Paulo, 1965), “Da Religiosidade” (São Paulo, 1967), “Le Monde Codifié” (Paris, 1972), “Natural:mente” (Sao Paulo, 1979), “Pós-história” (São Paulo, 1982), “Für eine Philosophie der Fotografie” (Göttingen, 1983), “Ins Universum der technischen Bilder” (Göttingen, 1985), “Die Schrift – Hat Schreiben Zukunft?” (Göttingen, 1987), “Vampyroteuthis infernalis” (Göttingen, 1987), “Angenommen – eine Szenenfolge” (Göttingen, 1989), and “Gesten – Versuch einer Phänomenologie” (Düsseldorf/Bensheim, 1991).

Vilém Flusser died in a car accident near the Czech border in November 1991.