Per un’ontologia etica del libro

Abstract

This paper presents a reflection on the ontological status of the book conceived as a material object. It discusses the limits that the various attempts to define the book meet and, through the analysis of the concept of “unreadable book”, it shows that the nature of the book in its objectuality can be clarified only by accepting it as a techn(olog)ical object. Only a book that meets precise technical specifications can be defined as such, and these specifications are required by the principles of typography.