The posthuman

Description

The Posthuman' starts by exploring the extent to which a post-humanist move displaces the traditional humanistic unity of the subject. Rather than perceiving this situation as a loss of cognitive and moral self-mastery, Braidotti argues that the posthuman helps us make sense of our flexible and multiple identities. Braidotti then analyzes the escalating effects of post-anthropocentric thought, which encompass not only other species, but also the sustainability of our planet as a whole. Because contemporary market economies profit from the control and commodification of all that lives, they result in hybridization, erasing categorical distinctions between the human and other species, seeds, plants, animals and bacteria. These dislocations induced by globalized cultures and economies enable a critique of anthropocentrism, but how reliable are they as indicators of a sustainable future? 'The Posthuman' concludes by considering the implications of these shifts for the institutional practice of the humanities. Acknowledgments vi Introduction 1 Chapter One: Post-humanism: Life beyond the Self 13 Chapter Two: Post-anthropocentrism: Life beyond the Species 55 Chapter Three: The Inhuman: Life beyond Death 105 Chapter Four: Posthuman Humanities Life beyond Theory 143 Conclusion 186 References 198 Index 214