Computational universality is a code totality that evades languages’ lived drama

Evidence

In such circumstances power can be symbolized better, for example, as ‘decision’ rather than as ‘will’. Functional specification and conditional programming – connections which can be tied together by ‘in so far as’ and ‘whenever’ formulations – are particularly suitable for articulating a universalistic power claim. At the same time they make it clear that power which must be claimed for unknown situations and be guaranteed in advance is in no way absolute or unlimited power. — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 670 (#expands, via linked claim)

But to claim, as they do, that the law can be integrated into “weapon design” itself is a gross abuse of language. All that the roboethicists can do is integrate certain rules within the design of certain programs, which clearly can be uninstalled or reprogrammed at any time. If you are capable of doing this on your own computer, you can be sure that every army in the world is likewise capable of doing so. The discursive operation here consists in justifying the development of highly dangerous hardware by offering the option of virtuous software. Congratulations: in buying the car (or rather the robot tank), you have also won a magnificent key ring. — Grégoire Chamayou, A Theory of the Drone, 668 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Embedding laws in software is an abuse of language since programs are always reprogrammable — Grégoire Chamayou, A Theory of the Drone, 668; Conditional, functional programming renders power universal yet bounded — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 670; A coded totality still evades the drama of languages — Édouard Glissant, Poetics of Relation, 452

Related

• Conditional, functional programming renders power universal yet bounded (similarity 0.84)
• Embedding laws in software is an abuse of language since programs are always reprogrammable (similarity 0.84)

Broader Connections

• Conditional, functional programming renders power universal yet bounded #expands (0.85) — Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, 670
• Embedding laws in software is an abuse of language since programs are always reprogrammable #corroborates (0.72) — Grégoire Chamayou, A Theory of the Drone, 668