The Bloomsbury Handbook of Posthumanism

The Bloomsbury Handbook of Posthumanism is a comprehensive survey of cutting-edge contemporary scholarship on posthumanism in literature, culture, and theory, bringing together leading scholars from across the world and a wide range of disciplines. It explores critical concepts and approaches, ethical perspectives on ecology, race, gender, and disability, technology, and a wide range of genres and forms.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 472 pages
Publication date: 21 April 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The human has faced numerous challenges in recent years, from technological change to medical advances, from the existential threat of climate crisis to an ideological decentering of the human. As a result, the 'posthuman' has become an increasingly central topic in the Humanities. The Bloomsbury Handbook of Posthumanism is a comprehensive survey of cutting-edge contemporary scholarship on posthumanism in literature, culture, and theory, bringing together leading scholars from across the world and a wide range of disciplines.

The handbook explores central critical concepts and approaches, including transhumanism, new materialism, and the Anthropocene. It also examines ethical perspectives on ecology, race, gender, and disability, as well as technology, from data and artificial intelligence to medicine and genetics. The handbook covers a wide range of genres and forms, from literary and science fiction to film, television, and music, to comics, video games, and social media.

One of the key themes of the handbook is the impact of technology on the human. As technology advances, it is becoming increasingly integrated into our lives, and this has led to a range of ethical and philosophical questions. For example, what are the implications of data and artificial intelligence for our privacy and autonomy? How can we ensure that technology is used for the benefit of all, rather than just a few?

Another theme of the handbook is the impact of climate crisis on the human. As the climate continues to change, we are facing a range of environmental challenges, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and loss of biodiversity. This has led to a growing movement for climate action, and the handbook explores the ethical and philosophical implications of this movement.

In addition to these themes, the handbook also explores the impact of posthumanism on literature, culture, and theory. Posthumanism is a philosophical movement that challenges the traditional humanist view of the world and suggests that the human is not the only or most important aspect of the world. Instead, posthumanism suggests that the human is just one part of a larger ecosystem, and that other species and non-human entities are also important.

The handbook includes a range of case studies and examples to illustrate these themes. For example, the chapter on transhumanism explores the idea of enhancing human abilities through technology, while the chapter on new materialism explores the idea of the material world as a source of meaning and value. The chapter on the Anthropocene explores the idea of the human as a geological force, and the chapter on climate crisis explores the ethical and philosophical implications of this crisis.

Overall, the Bloomsbury Handbook of Posthumanism is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the field of posthumanism. It provides a comprehensive overview of the key concepts and approaches in posthumanism, and it includes a range of case studies and examples to illustrate these themes. Whether you are a scholar, a student, or a general reader, this handbook will provide you with a wealth of information and insights into the world of posthumanism.

In conclusion, the 'posthuman' has become an increasingly central topic in the Humanities in recent years, and the Bloomsbury Handbook of Posthumanism is a comprehensive survey of cutting-edge contemporary scholarship on posthumanism in literature, culture, and theory. The handbook explores central critical concepts and approaches, ethical perspectives on ecology, race, gender, and disability, technology, and a wide range of genres and forms. It provides a valuable resource for anyone interested in the field of posthumanism, and it will help to shape the future of our understanding of the human.

Weight: 804g
Dimension: 244 x 169 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350300644