Posthumanism

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. 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.--page 4 Of Cover. Pramod K. Nayar. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 164-176) And Index. Cover 1 Series page 4 Title page 5 Copyright page 6 Acknowledgements 8 1: Revisiting the Human: Critical Humanisms 10 Terms and Definitions 15 Critical Humanism and the Origins of Posthumanism 22 2: Consciousness, Biology and the Necessity of Alterity 53 Cognition, Consciousness and Autopoiesis 54 Biology, Systems and Systems Biology 62 Dealing with/in Alterity 73 3: The Body, Reformatted 79 Biomedia, the Body Mathematized and Postvital Life 81 Other/ing Bodies 85 The Body as Congeries, Assemblage and Interface 90 4: Absolute Monstrosities: The ‘Question of the Animal’ 107 Monster Theory: Cultures of Otherness 114 Animal Nature, Human Nature 120 The Humanimal 126 Speciesism 131 5: Life Itself: The View from Disability Studies and Bioethics 137 Disability Studies and the Norms of the ‘Human’ 139 Bioethics and Personhood 148 6: Posthuman Visions: Toward Companion Species 169 Posthuman Biology 171 Posthumanist Biology 188 Companion Species 192 Conclusion: Posthumanism as Species Cosmopolitanism 202 Bibliography 211 Index 233 EBC,Converted