Security Principle

Security Principle Synopsis

In The Security Principle, French philosopher Fr,d,ric Gros takes a historical approach to the concept of "e;security"e;, looking at its evolution from the Stoics to the social network. With lucidity and rigour, Gros's approach is fourfold, looking at security as a mental state, as developed by the Greeks; as an objective situation and absence of all danger, as prevailed in the Middle Ages; as guaranteed by the nation state and its trio of judiciary, police and military; and finally "e;biosecurity"e;, control, regulation and protection in the flux of contemporary society.

In this deeply thought-provoking account, Gros's exploration of security shines a light both on its past meanings as well as its present uses, exposing the contemporary abuses of security and the pervasiveness of it in everyday life in the Global North.