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Humanitarianism in Question
by Michael Barnett Thomas G. WeissYears of tremendous growth in response to complex emergencies have left a mark on the humanitarian sector. Various matters that once seemed settled are now subjects of intense debate. What is humanitarianism? Is it limited to the provision of relief to victims of conflict, or does it include broader objectives such as human rights, democracy promotion, development, and peacebuilding? For much of the last century, the principles of humanitarianism were guided by neutrality, impartiality, and independence. More recently, some humanitarian organizations have begun to relax these tenets. The recognition that humanitarian action can lead to negative consequences has forced humanitarian organizations to measure their effectiveness, to reflect on their ethical positions, and to consider not only the values that motivate their actions but also the consequences of those actions. In the indispensable Humanitarianism in Question, Michael Barnett and Thomas G. Weiss bring together scholars from a variety of disciplines to address the humanitarian identity crisis, including humanitarianism's relationship to accountability, great powers, privatization and corporate philanthropy, warlords, and the ethical evaluations that inform life-and-death decision making during and after emergencies.
Humanitarianism in the Asia-Pacific: Engaging the Debate in Policy and Practice (SpringerBriefs in Political Science)
by Alistair D. B. Cook Lina GongThis collection offers insights of the international humanitarian system, considering what constitutes humanitarianism in Asia-Pacific, and how it shapes policy and practice in the region and globally. It adds to the conversation on reforming the global humanitarian system by providing the space to share perspectives on humanitarian action from our place in the world. The authors answer these questions by focusing on a range of issues from national to sectoral perspectives to relations between ‘traditional’ and ‘emerging’ players, concluding that the dynamics of the humanitarian system from the perspectives of the Asia-Pacific are rooted in their localized experiences and built outwards. The first significant trend is that understandings of humanitarianism in the Asia-Pacific are primarily shaped by the experience of disasters at home. Second, national governments play a dominant role in humanitarian affairs in the region. Finally, the humanitarian landscape in the Asia-Pacific constitutes a diverse yet under-appreciated set of actors. This book is based on the RSIS Conference on Asia and the Humanitarian World held in 2019 in Singapore. It is relevant to students, scholars, practitioners and policymakers with an interest in humanitarian assistance, disaster management, strategic studies and international relations in Asia-Pacific.
Humanitarianism: A Dictionary of Concepts
by Tim Allen Anna Macdonald Henry RadiceThe field of humanitarianism is characterised by profound uncertainty, by a constant need to respond to the unpredictable, and by concepts and practices that often defy simple or straightforward explanation. Humanitarians often find themselves not just engaged in the pursuit of effective action, but also in a quest for meaning. That is the starting point for this book. Humanitarian action has in recent years confronted geopolitical challenges that have upended much of its conventional modus operandi and presented threats to its foundational assumptions and legal frameworks. The critical interrogation of the purpose, practice and future of humanitarian action has yielded a rich new field of enquiry, humanitarian studies, and many thoughtful books, articles and reports. So, the question arose as to the most useful way to provide a critical overview that might serve to bring some definitional clarity as well as analytical rigor to the waves of critique and shifting sands of humanitarian action. Humanitarianism: A Dictionary of Concepts provides an authoritative analysis that attempts to rethink, rather than merely problematize or define the issues at stake in contemporary humanitarian debates. It is an important moment to do so. Just about every tenet of humanitarianism is currently open to question as never before.
Humanitarians in Hostile Territory: Expeditionary Diplomacy and Aid Outside the Green Zone
by Derrin R Smith Peter W Van ArsdaleMore than ever, humanitarian aid workers and diplomats are engaging with vulnerable populations in areas once considered too dangerous to touch. Drawing on decades of on-the-ground experience in conflict environments around the world, Van Arsdale and Smith offer this important and revealing guide to the ethics, theory, and practice of work outside so-called Green Zones of safety. On behalf of governments or NGOs, on missions ranging from complex humanitarian emergencies to post-war reconstruction, social scientists in interdisciplinary teams are operating in settings where the line between civilian and military projects is increasingly blurred. This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the realities of these new humanitarianisms and for the fields of international relations, anthropology, development studies, and peace studies.
Humanities Data in R: Exploring Networks, Geospatial Data, Images, and Text (Quantitative Methods in the Humanities and Social Sciences)
by Taylor Arnold Lauren TiltonThis book teaches readers to integrate data analysis techniques into humanities research practices using the R programming language. Methods for general-purpose visualization and analysis are introduced first, followed by domain-specific techniques for working with networks, text, geospatial data, temporal data, and images. The book is designed to be a bridge between quantitative and qualitative methods, individual and collaborative work, and the humanities and social sciences. The second edition of the text is a significant revision, with almost every aspect of the text rewritten in some way. The most notable difference is the incorporation of new R packages such as ggplot2 and dplyr that center broad data-science concepts. This 2nd edition of Humanities Data with R does not presuppose background programming experience. Early chapters take readers from R set-up to exploratory data analysis, with one chapter dedicated to each stage of the data-science pipeline (data collection, visualization, manipulation, and relational joins). Following this, text analysis, networks, temporal data, geospatial data, and image analysis each have a dedicated chapter. These are grounded in examples to move readers beyond the intimidation of adding new tools to their research. The final section of the book extends the core material with additional computer science techniques for processing large datasets. Everything is hands-on: image analysis is explained using digitized photographs from the 1930s, and networks are applied to page links on Wikipedia. After working through these examples with the provided data, code and book website, readers are prepared to apply new methods to their own work. The open source R programming language, with its myriad packages and popularity within the sciences and social sciences, is particularly well-suited to working with humanities data. R packages are also highlighted in an appendix. The methodology will have wide application in classrooms and self-study for the humanities, but also for use in linguistics, anthropology, and political science. Outside the classroom, this intersection of humanities and computing is particularly relevant for research and new modes of dissemination across archives, museums and libraries.
Humanities and Sustainability from Glocal Perspectives Towards Future Earth: Proceedings of IGU Thematic Conference 2022, India (Advances in Geographical and Environmental Sciences)
by Manish Kumar Pankaj Kumar Subhash Anand Dinesh Kumar Tripathi Naresh Kumar VermaThis book presents selected papers from the International Geographical Union (IGU) Thematic Conference 2022, which was held at the Central University of Haryana, Mahendragarh, India, November 24–25, 2022. The theme of the conference was Sustainability, Future Earth, and Humanities: Opportunities and Challenges. Focusing on the humanities, the book shares advanced research and innovative approaches that illuminate significant discoveries concerning integrated glocal (global-local) perspectives on sustainability. The integration of humanities and glocal perspectives has become crucial to ensure a sustainable future for our planet. To achieve a thriving future, it is essential to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and human values, while acknowledging the interconnectedness of local and global dynamics. The humanities contribute a distinct dimension to sustainability by offering cultural, ethical, and historical insights. Glocal perspectives, on the other hand, underscore the interdependence of our planet's ecosystems and human societies. They advocate for a dual focus on local contexts and global implications, recognizing that environmental challenges such as climate change, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and pollution manifest differently in various regions due to diverse socio-economic, political, and cultural factors. The integration of the humanities and sustainability encourages a transformative shift towards more ethical and responsible behavior, fostering a sense of stewardship for the environment. The book includes a wide range of topics, focusing extensively on the potential contributions of humanities towards the goal of long-term sustainability. The topics covered in this book encompass in-depth analyses of various subjects, such as environment and society, social dynamics, human development, urban landscape dynamics, rural-urban inequality, gender inequality, gender-environment relationships, entrepreneurship, public health, COVID-19 management and its spatiotemporal aspects, and geopolitics, among others. The book discusses both global and local perspectives on these important issues. Consequently, the knowledge and innovation presented in the book make a substantial academic contribution and facilitate to achieve sustainability, both at local and global levels.
Humanity
by Jonathan GloverThis fascinating and profound book is about the psychology that made possible Hiroshima, the Nazi genocide, the Gulag, the Chinese Cultural Revolution, Pol Pot's Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and many other atrocities. The author reveals common patterns - how the distance and fragmented responsibility of technological warfare gave rise to Hiroshima; how the tribalism resulted in mutual fear and hatred in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia; how the systems of belief made atrocities possible in Stalin's Russia, in Mao's China and in Cambodia; and how the powerful combination of tribalism and belief enabled people to do otherwise unimaginable things in Nazi Germany. The common patterns suggest weak points in our psychology. The resulting picture is used as a guide for the ethics we should create if we hope to overcome them.
Humanity 2.0
by Steve FullerDeveloping directly from Fuller's recent book Humanity 2. 0 , this is the first book to seriously consider what a 'post-' or 'trans'-' human state of being might mean for who we think we are, how we live, what we believe and what we aim to be.
Humanity without Dignity: Moral Equality, Respect, and Human Rights
by Andrea SangiovanniWhy are all persons due equal respect? Andrea Sangiovanni rejects the view that human dignity is grounded in our capacities for reason, love, etc. Rather than focus on the basis for equality, we should focus on inequality: Why and when is it wrong to treat others as inferior? Moral equality, he writes, is best explained by a rejection of cruelty.
Humanity's Last Stand: Confronting Global Catastrophe
by Mark SchullerAre we as a species headed towards extinction? As our economic system renders our planet increasingly inhospitable to human life, powerful individuals fight over limited resources, and racist reaction to migration strains the social fabric of many countries. How can we retain our humanity in the midst of these life-and-death struggles? Humanity’s Last Stand dares to ask these big questions, exploring the interconnections between climate change, global capitalism, xenophobia, and white supremacy. As it unearths how capitalism was born from plantation slavery and the slaughter of Indigenous people, it also invites us to imagine life after capitalism. The book teaches its readers how to cultivate an anthropological imagination, a mindset that remains attentive to local differences even as it identifies global patterns of inequality and racism. Surveying the struggles of disenfranchised peoples around the globe from frontline communities affected by climate change, to #BlackLivesMatter activists, to Indigenous water protectors, to migrant communities facing increasing hostility, anthropologist Mark Schuller argues that we must develop radical empathy in order to move beyond simply identifying as “allies” and start acting as “accomplices.” Bringing together the insights of anthropologists and activists from many cultures, this timely study shows us how to stand together and work toward a more inclusive vision of humanity before it’s too late. More information and instructor resources (https://humanityslaststand.org)
Humanity: An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
by James Peoples Garrick BaileyUsing engaging stories and clear writing, HUMANITY: AN INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Tenth Edition, introduces cultural anthropology within a solid framework centered on globalization and culture change. Peoples and Bailey focus on the social and cultural consequences of globalization, emphasizing culture change and world problems. The book's engaging narrative provides new ways of looking at many of the challenges facing the world in this century. As you explore contemporary issues including recent debates on gay marriage, cultural and economic globalization, population growth, hunger, and the survival of indigenous cultures, you will gain a better understanding of the cultural information you need to successfully navigate in today's global economy. The authors emphasize the diversity of humanity and reveal why an appreciation and tolerance of cultural differences is critical in the modern world.
Humanity: An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (9th Edition)
by James Peoples Garrick BaileyUsing engaging stories and clear writing, CENGAGE ADVANTAGE BOOKS: HUMANITY: AN INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Ninth Edition, introduces cultural anthropology within a solid framework centered on globalization and culture change. Peoples and Bailey focus on the social and cultural consequences of globalization, emphasizing culture change and world problems. The book's engaging narrative provides new ways of looking at many of the challenges facing the world in this century. As you explore more contemporary issues, including recent debates on gay marriage, cultural and economic globalization, population growth, hunger, and the survival of indigenous cultures, you will gain a better understanding of the cultural information you need to successfully navigate in today's global economy. The authors emphasize the diversity of humanity and reveal why an appreciation and tolerance of cultural differences is critical in the modern world.
Humanitäre Arbeit, sozialer Wandel und menschliches Verhalten: Mitgefühl für den Wandel
by Cornelia C. WaltherDieses Buch basiert auf der Auffassung, dass die menschliche Existenz aus dem Zusammenspiel von vier Dimensionen resultiert: Geist, Herz, Körper und Seele, die ihren Ausdruck in Gedanken, Emotionen, Empfindungen und Bestrebungen finden. Durch die Verbindung von Theorie und Praxis, einschließlich der persönlichen Erfahrungen, die der Autor während seiner zwei Jahrzehnte währenden humanitären Arbeit in Notstandsgebieten gemacht hat, zielt das Buch darauf ab, den Leser zum Verstehen (Gedanken), Fühlen (Emotionen) und Erleben (Empfindungen) zu bringen und ihm den Wunsch zu vermitteln, Teil eines Paradigmenwechsels zu sein, der auf einen lokalen und globalen Wandel abzielt (Bestreben). Es wird eine Methodik vorgestellt, mit der das Zusammenspiel zwischen dem Einzelnen und den Institutionen und Gesellschaften, in denen er arbeitet, seine Familie aufzieht und seine Träume verfolgt, optimiert werden kann. Darüber hinaus wird versucht, den Zweck wieder in den Mittelpunkt des täglichen Lebens und der humanitären Institutionen zu stellen. Die zentrale Botschaft des Buches lautet, dass eine bessere Welt nicht abstrakt und abstrus ist und auch nicht sein sollte, sondern dass sie in den Händen eines jeden liegt.
Humanizing Business: What Humanities Can Say to Business (Issues in Business Ethics #53)
by R. Edward Freeman Michel Dion Sergiy D. DmytriyevThis book is about humanizing business. In contrast to the mainstream modern management and leadership literature, this book provides distinctly humane perspectives on business. The volume travels outside the world of business to explore what Humanities – such as Philosophy, History, Literature, Creative Arts, and Cultural Studies – can offer to business. Renowned scholars from different Humanities disciplines, as well as management researchers exploring the heritage of Humanities, convey what it actually means to make business more humane. The book strives to humanize business. It aims to show that it is not people who have to suppress their human feelings, aspirations, and beliefs when they are at their workplaces, but it is business itself that needs to be redefined by the human norms of human beings. Companies should care about their employees and other stakeholders letting them be themselves, i.e. be human, at work and beyond. The book will be of interest to management scholars across various business disciplines. It can also be used as teaching material in the classroom with MBA students, especially in Business Ethics, Business and Society, Sustainability, Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management and other management courses. The volume will also be of interest to scholars that work in different Humanities fields and whose interests span organizations, management, and business. Finally, many practitioners in the business world, especially those in managerial and leadership positions, will find the book both thought-provoking and useful for them as well.Chapter 37 is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.
Humanizing Immigration: How to Transform Our Racist and Unjust System
by Bill Ong Hing&“Incisive and compelling, reflecting the painful wisdom and knowledge that Bill Ong Hing has accrued over the course of fifty years..." --Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim CrowFirst book to argue that immigrant and refugee rights are part of the fight for racial justice; offers a humanitarian approach to reform and abolition.Representing non-citizens caught up in what he calls the immigration and enforcement &“meat grinder&”, Bill Ong Hing witnessed their trauma, arriving at this conclusion: migrants should have the right to free movement across borders—and the right to live free of harassment over immigration status.He cites examples of racial injustices endemic in immigration law and enforcement, from historic courtroom cases to the recent treatment of Haitian migrants. Hing includes histories of Mexican immigration, African migration and the Asian exclusion era, all of which reveal ICE abuse and a history of often forgotten racist immigration laws.While ultimately arguing for the abolishment of ICE, Hing advocates for change now. With fifty years of law practice and litigation, Hing has represented non-citizens -- from gang members to asylum seekers fleeing violence, and from individuals in ICE detention to families at the US southern border seeking refuge.Hing maps out major reforms to the immigration system, making an urgent call for the adoption of a radical, racial justice lens. Readers will understand the root causes of migration and our country&’s culpability in contributing to those causes.
Humanizing Research: Decolonizing Qualitative Inquiry With Youth and Communities
by Django Paris Maisha T. Winn*Winner of the 2015 Outstanding Book Award from the American Educational Research Association’s Qualitative Research Special Interest Group (SIG).* What does it mean to conduct research for justice with youth and communities who are marginalized by systems of inequality based on race, ethnicity, sexuality, citizenship status, gender, and other categories of difference? In this collection, editors Django Paris and Maisha Winn have selected essays written by top scholars in education on humanizing approaches to qualitative and ethnographic inquiry with youth and their communities. Vignettes, portraits, narratives, personal and collaborative explorations, photographs, and additional data excerpts bring the findings to life for a better understanding of how to use research for positive social change.
Humankind: A Hopeful History
by Rutger Bregman<P><P>If there is one belief that has united the left and the right, psychologists and philosophers, ancient thinkers and modern ones, it is the tacit assumption that humans are bad. It's a notion that drives newspaper headlines and guides the laws that shape our lives. From Machiavelli to Hobbes, Freud to Pinker, the roots of this belief have sunk deep into Western thought. Human beings, we're taught, are by nature selfish and governed primarily by self-interest. <P><P>But what if it isn't true? International bestseller Rutger Bregman provides new perspective on the past 200,000 years of human history, setting out to prove that we are hardwired for kindness, geared toward cooperation rather than competition, and more inclined to trust rather than distrust one another. In fact this instinct has a firm evolutionary basis going back to the beginning of Homo sapiens. <P><P>From the real-life Lord of the Flies to the solidarity in the aftermath of the Blitz, the hidden flaws in the Stanford prison experiment to the true story of twin brothers on opposite sides who helped Mandela end apartheid, Bregman shows us that believing in human generosity and collaboration isn't merely optimistic---it's realistic. <P><P>Moreover, it has huge implications for how society functions. When we think the worst of people, it brings out the worst in our politics and economics. But if we believe in the reality of humanity's kindness and altruism, it will form the foundation for achieving true change in society, a case that Bregman makes convincingly with his signature wit, refreshing frankness, and memorable storytelling. <P><P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
Humankind: How Biology and Geography Shape Human Diversity
by Alexander H. HarcourtAn innovative and illuminating look at how the evolution of the human species has been shaped by the world around us, from anatomy and physiology, to cultural diversity and population density. Where did the human species originate? Why are tropical peoples much more diverse than those at polar latitudes? Why can only Japanese peoples digest seaweed? How are darker skin, sunlight, and fertility related? Did Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens ever interbreed? In Humankind, U. C. Davis professor Alexander Harcourt answers these questions and more, as he explains how the expansion of the human species around the globe and our interaction with our environment explains much about why humans differ from one region of the world to another, not only biologically, but culturally. What effects have other species had on the distribution of humans around the world, and we, in turn, on their distribution? And how have human populations affected each other's geography, even existence? For the first time in a single book, Alexander Harcourt brings these topics together to help us understand why we are, what we are, where we are. It turns out that when one looks at humanity's expansion around the world, and in the biological explanations for our geographic diversity, we humans are often just another primate. Humanity's distribution around the world and the type of organism we are today has been shaped by the same biogeographical forces that shape other species.
Humans
by Claudio Tuniz Patrizia Tiberi VipraioBased on the latest scientific discoveries, this "unauthorized biography" of the Humans recounts the story of our distant ancestors during the past 6 million years, since the line of our extended family separated from that leading to modern chimpanzees. The book explains how different species evolved, both anatomically and cognitively, and describes the impacts of climatic and environmental change on this process. It also explores the nature of relationships within and between species, describes their everyday lives, and discusses how isolated individuals became members of larger social groups. The concluding chapters highlight the paramount importance of the emergence of symbolic thought and discuss its contribution to the formation of institutions, societies, and economies. The multifaceted picture that emerges will help the reader to make sense not only of "what we were", but also of "what we are", here and now. The book is both entertaining and rigorous in integrating results from a wide selection of disciplines. It will be particularly suitable for people with a curious and open mind, keen to overcome long-standing prejudices on man's place in nature.
Humans Need Not Apply: A Guide to Wealth & Work in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
by Jerry KaplanAn &“intriguing, insightful&” look at how algorithms and robots could lead to social unrest—and how to avoid it (The Economist, Books of the Year). After decades of effort, researchers are finally cracking the code on artificial intelligence. Society stands on the cusp of unprecedented change, driven by advances in robotics, machine learning, and perception powering systems that rival or exceed human capabilities. Driverless cars, robotic helpers, and intelligent agents that promote our interests have the potential to usher in a new age of affluence and leisure—but as AI expert and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Jerry Kaplan warns, the transition may be protracted and brutal unless we address the two great scourges of the modern developed world: volatile labor markets and income inequality. In Humans Need Not Apply, he proposes innovative, free-market adjustments to our economic system and social policies to avoid an extended period of social turmoil. His timely and accessible analysis of the promises and perils of AI is a must-read for business leaders and policy makers on both sides of the aisle. &“A reminder that AI systems don&’t need red laser eyes to be dangerous.&”—Times Higher Education Supplement &“Kaplan…sidesteps the usual arguments of techno-optimism and dystopia, preferring to go for pragmatic solutions to a shrinking pool of jobs.&”—Financial Times
Humans and Devices in Medical Contexts: Case Studies from Japan (Health, Technology and Society)
by Susanne Brucksch Kaori SasakiThis book explores the ways in which socio-technical settings in medical contexts find varying articulations in a specific locale. Focusing on Japan, it consists of nine case studies on topics concerning: experiences with radiation in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Fukushima; patient security, end-of-life and high-tech medicine in hospitals; innovation and diffusion of medical technology; and the engineering and evaluating of novel devices in clinical trials. The individual chapters situate humans and devices in medical settings in their given semantic, pragmatic, institutional and historical context. A highly interdisciplinary approach offers deep insights beyond the manifold findings of each case study, thereby enriching academic discussions on socio-technical settings in medical contexts amongst affiliated disciplines. This volume will be of broad interest to scholars, practitioners, policy makers and students from various disciplines, including Science and Technology Studies (STS), medical humanities, social sciences, ethics and law, business and innovation studies, as well as biomedical engineering, medicine and public health.
Humans in Shackles: An Atlantic History of Slavery
by Ana Lucia AraujoA sweeping narrative history of the Atlantic slave trade and slavery in the Americas. During the era of the Atlantic slave trade, more than twelve million enslaved Africans were forcibly transported to the Americas in cramped, inhumane conditions. Many of them died on the way, and those who survived had to endure further suffering in the violent conditions that met them onshore. Covering more than three hundred years, Humans in Shackles grapples with this history by foregrounding the lived experience of enslaved people in tracing the long, complex history of slavery in the Americas. Based on twenty years of research, this book not only serves as a comprehensive history; it also expands that history by providing a truly transnational account that emphasizes the central role of Brazil in the Atlantic slave trade. Additionally, it is deeply informed by African history and shows how African practices and traditions survived and persisted in the Americas among communities of enslaved people. Drawing on primary sources including travel accounts, pamphlets, newspaper articles, slave narratives, and visual sources such as artworks and artifacts, Araujo illuminates the social, cultural, and religious lives of enslaved people working in plantations and urban areas, building families and cultivating affective ties, congregating and re-creating their cultures, and organizing rebellions. Humans in Shackles puts the lived experiences of enslaved peoples at the center of the story and investigates the heavy impact these atrocities have had on the current wealth disparity of the Americas and rampant anti-Black racism.
Humans in the Siberian Landscapes: Ethnocultural Dynamics and Interaction with Nature and Space (Springer Geography)
by Vladimir N. Bocharnikov Alina N. SteblyanskayaThis book considers theoretical issues of the ethnocultural landscape concepts at large as well as examples of its practical application in ethnic communities of Siberia. It reveals the patterns of the processes of penetration, settlement, development and adaptation of Siberian populations from Paleolithic time to Russian colonization in the era of the Russian Empire, during Soviet modernization and in the face of modern challenges. The authors consider the principal interactions (character, stages, conditions), system-related evidence and phenomena that determine the diverse specifics and multidirectional vectors of a change in the ethnic (social, cultural, economic, legal) presence in large subregions of Siberia in the mirror of various theoretical paradigms. This transdisciplinary volume appeals to researchers, lecturers and students in the fields of geography, history, philosophy, anthropology, ecology, archaeology and interfaces to many other disciplines.
Humans, Angels, And Cyborgs Aboard Theseus' Ship: Metaphysics, Mythology, and Mysticism in Trans-/Posthumanist Philosophies
by Mattia GerettoThis book addresses the most suggestive themes of transhumanism and critical posthumanism by placing them in dialogue with classic problems of metaphysics, and with some great thinkers of the past (Bruno, Spinoza, and above all Leibniz). The main purpose of this comparison is to invite transhumanists and critical posthumanists to consider a highly complex problematic tradition rooted in the history of philosophy. This study also makes use of examples drawn from the history of mythology, angelology, and mysticism. At the same time, the book promotes dialogue between scholars of classical metaphysics and philosophy of religion, and the potential metaphysical/spiritual theories developed independently by transhumanist and posthumanist thinkers within an anti-dualist and naturalistic philosophical framework. The goal is to ‘enhance’ contemporary transhumanism and posthumanism by promoting the need to safeguard intelligence as a principle, without falling into the trap of a violent and egotistic metaphysics.
Humans, Animals and Biopolitics: The more-than-human condition (Multispecies Encounters)
by Steve Hinchliffe Kristin Asdal Tone DruglitroHuman-animal co-existence is central to a politics of life, how we order societies, and to debates about who ’we’ humans think ’we’ are. In other words, our ways of understanding and ordering human-animal relations have economic and political implications and affect peoples’ everyday lives. By bringing together historically-oriented approaches and contemporary ethnographies which engage with science and technology studies (STS), this book reflects the multi-sited, multi-species, multi-logic and multiple ways in which lives are and have been assembled, disassembled, practised and possibly policed and politicized. Instead of asking only how control and knowledge are and have been extended over life, the chapters in this book also look at what happens when control fails, at practices which defy orders, escape detection, fail to produce or only loosely hang together. In doing so the book problematises and extends the Foucauldian notion of biopolitics that has been such a central analytical concept in studies of human-animal relations and provides a unique resource of cases and theoretical refinements regarding the ways in which we live together with more than human others .