Wild Man From Borneo : A Cultural History of the Orangutan

__Wild Man from Borneo__ offers the first comprehensive history of the human-orangutan encounter. Arguably the most humanlike of all the great apes, particularly in intelligence and behavior, the orangutan has been cherished, used, and abused ever since it was first brought to the attention of Europeans in the seventeenth century. The red ape has engaged the interest of scientists, philosophers, artists, and the public at large in a bewildering array of guises that have by no means been exclusively zoological or ecological. One reason for such a long-term engagement with a being found only on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra is that, like its fellow great apes, the orangutan stands on that most uncomfortable dividing line between human and animal, existing, for us, on what has been called “the dangerous edge of the garden of nature.” Beginning with the scientific discovery of the red ape more than three hundred years ago, this work goes on to examine the ways in which its human attributes have been both recognized and denied in science, philosophy, travel literature, popular science, literature, theatre, museums, and film. The authors offer a provocative analysis of the origin of the name “orangutan,” trace how the ape has been recruited to arguments on topics as diverse as slavery and rape, and outline the history of attempts to save the animal from extinction. Today, while human populations increase exponentially, that of the orangutan is in dangerous decline. The remaining “wild men of Borneo” are under increasing threat from mining interests, logging, human population expansion, and the widespread destruction of forests. The authors hope that this history will, by adding to our knowledge of this fascinating being, assist in some small way in their preservation.

In this highly insightful analysis of Western and Chinese concepts of efficacy, François Jullien subtly delves into the metaphysical preconceptions of the two civilizations to account for diverging patterns of action in warfare, politics, and diplomacy. He shows how Western and Chinese strategies work in several domains (the battlefield, for example) and analyzes two resulting acts of war. The Chinese strategist manipulates his own troops and the enemy to win a battle without waging war and to bring about victory effortlessly. Efficacity in China is thus conceived of in terms of transformation (as opposed to action) and manipulation, making it closer to what is understood as efficacy in the West.

Jullien's brilliant interpretations of an array of recondite texts are key to understanding our own conceptions of action, time, and reality in this foray into the world of Chinese thought. In its clear and penetrating characterization of two contrasting views of reality from a heretofore unexplored perspective, A Treatise on Efficacy will be of central importance in the intellectual debate between East and West.

Beginning with the scientific discovery of the red ape more than three hundred years ago, this work examines the ways in which its human attributes have been both recognized and denied in science, philosophy, travel literature, popular science, literature, theatre, museums, and film. It offers analysis of the origin of the name 'orangutan,' traces how the ape has been recruited to arguments on topics as diverse as slavery and rape, and outlines the history of attempts to save the animal from extinction. Today, while human populations increase exponentially, that of the orangutan is in dangerous decline. The remaining 'wild men of Borneo' are under increasing threat from mining interests, logging, human population expansion, and the widespread destruction of forests Contents Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction 1. From Satyr to Pongo: Discovering the Red Ape 2. “A More than Animal Intelligence”: Exploring the Species Boundary 3. Wanted Dead or Alive: Orangutans on Display 4. Darkest Borneo, Savage Sumatra 5. Imagining Orangutans: Fictions, Fantasies, Futures 6. Close Encounters and Dangerous Liaisons 7. Monkey Business: Orangutans on Stage and Screen 8. Zoo Stories: Becoming Animals, Unbecoming Humans 9 On the Edge: Conservation and the Threat of Extinction 10. Faces in the Mirror: Evolution, Intelligence, and Rights Afterword Notes Bibliography Index About the Authors