The Routledge Handbook of Dehumanization

The Routledge Handbook of Dehumanization is a comprehensive and multidisciplinary reference source on the subject of dehumanization, covering its history, contemporary studies, and complex facets, with a focus on the perpetrators and targets perspective, metadehumanization, rehumanization, social death, status and interdependence, and its connection to hatred, essentialism, and perception. It is essential reading for students and researchers in philosophy, history, psychology, anthropology, and related disciplines.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 404 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

A chilling aspect of atrocities such as genocides, civil wars, and violence against specific racial and ethnic groups is the attempt to dehumanize individuals, denying and stripping them of their inherent humanity. Despite its prevalence, the nature of dehumanization remains relatively poorly understood. The Routledge Handbook of Dehumanization is a groundbreaking and comprehensive reference source that delves into the intricate aspects of dehumanization, offering a comprehensive survey of the key concepts, issues, and debates within this field.

The Handbook is organized into four parts, each addressing different aspects of dehumanization. The first part explores the historical trajectory of dehumanization, spanning from Greek Antiquity to the 20th century. It contextualizes the evolving boundaries, dimensions, and hierarchies of humanity throughout Western history, highlighting the oscillating nature of dehumanization.

The second part examines the contemporary study of dehumanization in various contexts, including social psychology, legal studies, literary studies, and its connections to human rights, disability, eugenics, animals, and moral standing. It explores how dehumanization is approached from different perspectives and how it intersects with other fields such as ethics and social justice.

The third part addresses the complex facets of dehumanization, exploring issues such as metadehumanization, self-dehumanization, rehumanization, social death, status and interdependence, as well as the fear we often exhibit towards robots that surpass our human capabilities. It examines the moral and ethical implications of dehumanization and explores strategies for countering it.

The fourth part delves into conceptual and epistemological questions related to dehumanization. It examines how to distinguish different forms of dehumanization from neighboring phenomena, explores the paradoxical nature of dehumanization, and explores its connections to hatred, essentialism, and perception.

This Handbook is an essential resource for students and researchers in philosophy, history, psychology, anthropology, politics, international relations, criminology, legal studies, literary studies, and related disciplines. It provides a comprehensive and multidisciplinary understanding of dehumanization, offering valuable insights into the complex dynamics that underpin this phenomenon.

By exploring the historical, contemporary, and conceptual dimensions of dehumanization, the Handbook contributes to a deeper understanding of the human condition and the challenges we face in promoting empathy, compassion, and social justice. It serves as a call to action, urging individuals and societies to recognize the inherent value and dignity of every human being and to work towards creating a more inclusive and humane world.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367637132