Information Revolution and Insurance Ethos: Weber, Foucault, Deleuze and Beyond

Abstract

We discuss the relationship between insurance and capitalism and the effect of information revolution on society. We propose that risk calculation and capitalistic insurance ethos represent the episteme of the classical period and laid the ground for capitalism. We discuss information revolution in relation to risk and insurance. Information revolution allows corporations to behave like insurers in that they produce and discriminate risks. In this sense, information revolution can be considered insurance revolution. Information revolution deconstructs individuals to dividuals, and transforms a society of discipline or control to a society of manipulation. In the society of manipulation, languages are numerical and network; manipulation has the form of modulation and metamorphosis; and people are exposed to multiple personalities and compound dividuals. It is also noted that information revolution intensifies the immanent conflicts of the insurance ethos.