Elemental Difference and the Climate of the Body

In the 19th century, differences among human bodies were seen as scientific classifications. Today, they are understood as social constructions created by humans. This book argues that new materialists and social constructionists share a distinction between the political and the ecological, and that the polis, a philosophical concept of one complete human form, is responsible for our current political and ecological crisis. Parker builds from Sylvia Wynter's argument that biocentrism is a feature of the polis, which defines the one complete body by its capacity for disembodied thought. The polis is responsible for both political and ecological hierarchy, and elemental difference is crucial for addressing contemporary crises of the polis.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 328 pages
\n Publication date: 12 October 2021
\n Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc
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In the 19th century, the concept of human bodies being classified as matters of scientific classification was widely accepted. However, as time progressed, the understanding of these differences shifted. Today, we recognize that they are not solely the result of scientific categorization but rather are shaped by social constructs.

Social constructionism is a philosophical perspective that views differences among humans as products of human imposition. It suggests that these differences are not inherent or natural but rather are created and reinforced by social norms, institutions, and cultural practices.

One of the central ideas of social constructionism is that the origin of these differences can be traced back to the concept of the polis, which refers to a unified and harmonious society. According to this philosophy, there exists one complete human form, which is meant to govern all other things. This form is considered to be the source of our current political and ecological crises.

Political hierarchies and ecological crises are often seen as separate problems, but social constructionism argues that they are interconnected. For example, many people perceive climate change and racial injustice as parallel issues, but social constructionism suggests that they are part of a larger problem: the dominance of the polis.

The polis philosophy asserts that there is one complete human body, which is meant to govern all other things. This body is seen as the ultimate source of authority and power, and it is through this body that social hierarchies are established and maintained.

However, social constructionism also recognizes that empirical bodily non-identity, an Aristotelian concept, can be used to elevate one group of bodies above the rest. This concept suggests that individuals can be categorized based on their physical characteristics, such as race or gender, and that these categories can be used to create hierarchies and inequalities.

Parker builds her argument on the philosophy of the polis by drawing from the work of Sylvia Wynter, who argues that the very concept of the polis is rooted in the idea of empirical bodily non-identity. Wynter suggests that the polis is a hierarchical structure that privileges certain groups of bodies over others, and that this privileging is based on the idea that certain bodies are more valuable or more important than others.

In conclusion, the concept of human bodies being classified as matters of scientific classification was widely accepted in the 19th century, but as time progressed, our understanding of these differences shifted. Today, we recognize that they are shaped by social constructs, and that the polis philosophy is a central factor in understanding the origin of these differences. Social constructionism offers a way of understanding the world that recognizes the interconnectedness of political hierarchies, ecological crises, and the dominance of the polis. By recognizing the empirical bodily non-identity that can be used to create hierarchies and inequalities, social constructionism provides a framework for challenging and dismantling these structures.

\n Weight: 470g\n
Dimension: 157 x 236 x 22 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780197575086\n \n