Posthumanism

by Pramod K. Nayar

This timely book examines the rise of posthumanism as both a material condition and a developing philosophical-ethical project in the age of cloning, gene engineering, organ transplants and implants.

Nayar first maps the political and philosophical critiques of traditional humanism, revealing its exclusionary and ‘speciesist’ politics that position the human as a distinctive and dominant life form. He then contextualizes the posthumanist vision which, drawing upon biomedical, engineering and techno-scientific studies, concludes that human consciousness is shaped by its co-evolution with other life forms, and our human form inescapably influenced by tools and technology. Finally the book explores posthumanism’s roots in disability studies, animal studies and bioethics to underscore the constructed nature of ‘normalcy’ in bodies, and the singularity of species and life itself.

As this book powerfully demonstrates, posthumanism marks a radical reassessment of the human as constituted by symbiosis, assimilation, difference and dependence upon and with other species. Mapping the terrain of these far-reaching debates, Posthumanism will be an invaluable companion to students of cultural studies and modern and contemporary literature.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Science

208 pages, Hardcover

First published November 4, 2013

Reviews

[Osore Misanthrope]

Основе филозофије постхуманизма које даје Франческа Ферандо истакао сам овде.

У овој књизи аутор прави мало већи захват и показује како постхуманизам проналази упориште у савременој биологији. Проблем је испедалираност текста – беспотребни сажеци преко сажетака, уз демонстрирање свега реченог кроз текстове Октавије Батлер у завршном поглављу. Упркос томе, књига није лоша, али ово усхићивање друштвењака оним што као биолог узимам здраво за готово почиње да ми шкрипи као покварена плоча, нарочито када се сасвим погрешно пориче значај компетиције у еволуцији живог света. Истицање мреже живота не постиже се жмурењем на сваки дистопијски, крвави аспект стварности. Ако баш хоћемо крајњост, проточна/процесна перспектива осликава враћање биомакромолекула на елементарне честице, односно биосферно кружење материје на субатомски ниво – panta rhei – па шта? Творе нас некадашње звездане честице, интергални смо део свемира где је све подједнако (не)важно, где категорија значаја не постоји...

Оно што за нас, мале пакосне двоношце треба бити гласовито, јесте тренутна неспособност академске заједнице да мења антропоцентрични светоназор јер управо од њега већински болује. Medice, cura te ipsum. Захтев за утопијском променом која је инхерентно лажљива има, на пример, комунистички режим. Волео бих да постхуманизам остане његов антипод, ма колико ово не звучало пост-дуалистички.

[emma ☽︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

only did an introduction to posthumanism in my class but this book was very helpful!

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posthumanism is a difficult concept to grasp. Academic essays can often be exceedingly intricate and often obnoxious. Nayar in this book simplifies his language but not at the expense of the complexity of the topic. Although I've read a lot about posthumanism before, I do think that out of the books I've read on the topic, Nayar's style of writing is the most accessible for people newer to the topic or who (like me) struggle with some of the genomic/biological debate around it.

The book is structured very clearly, lay out in sections easy to navigate. As well as this, he touches upon biological advances, but takes time to explain why these are relevant to the debate and often situates them alongside literary or sociological discourse to help aid your understanding.

The points he makes are exceedingly relevant and frequently made me pause to really take not and question them. I wrote a lot of notes reading this, and I highly recommend doing the same if you're reading, because it helps to digest and understand and remember the vast quantity of information in here.

[Clare Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a helpful introduction to critical posthumanism, if you are starting to explore the subject and has given me ideas of philosophies and theories to consider more broadly.

At its core, critical posthumanism recognises that our sense of human is constructed from white, male able bodies and been used to exclude groups such as slaves, Jews and people with disabilities throughout history.

Using literature to recognise where edges are blurred between humans, machines and animals can develop a more respectful approach to one another and our environment

[Betül · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good beginning for anyone interested in the theory and would like to have some names to work on. Although the book as a whole could have been better, its first chapter is especially good for newcomers to this new theory.

[Jamrock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this exhaustively for support of a Masters essay. Too exhausted to review! Very useful read on Posthumanism and very accessible.

[Alejandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nayar has created a very good compendium of posthumanism in the most relevant art forms of this century with this book. I don’t suggest starting with this if you’re new to posthumanism, though.