ENGL 591
Ecology and Philosophy
Timothy Morton
The current ecological crisis (maybe “crisis” is far too
limited a term) means that humans are undergoing an upgrade in how they think
and feel about nonhuman beings. An upgrade, whether they like it or not, and
whether they are aware of it or not: even Rush Limbaugh needs to wear
sunscreen.
The crisis in ecological awareness is thus also a crisis in philosophy.
For the last two hundred years, a very interesting movement and
counter-movement has evolved within philosophy. This dynamic is about how we
allow lifeforms into thought, into our ethical and political concern, and into
social space.
Furthermore, it's quite clear that we live in a set of
overlapping, often contradictory, philosophies embodied in fields, food,
energy, the way we talk to cats, how we make art and what we do (or don't do)
about toilets, meat, and ice (and so on). These embodied philosophies make up a
12 000-year pattern.
Outcomes:
This class will complicate and clarify your ability to engage
with nonhuman beings.
You will improve your ability to think and reflect, and
allow yourself to be wrong, or puzzled, or curious.
You will understand a living tradition that deeply affects
the biosphere, of which theory is a somewhat narrow bandwidth. And make ideas about what to do
about it.
3 comments:
bibliography?
Have you considered podcasting this, like Dreyfus does with his stuff?
Have you considered podcasting this like Dreyfus does with his stuff?
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