Toward a Critical Theory of Nature: Capital, Ecology, and Dialectics

Critical Theory of Nature offers a bold new theoretical understanding of the current crisis, focusing on dialectics, natural history, and materialism to confirm humanity's central place in manufacturing environmental misery. It challenges other contemporary theoretical approaches and offers utopian idealism for understanding and responding to the climate crisis.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 11 February 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Rewritten text:

Towards a Critical Theory of Nature presents a groundbreaking theoretical exploration of the current crisis, challenging the normalization of a capitalist reality where environmental destruction and catastrophe have become commonplace. By drawing upon the insights of the Frankfurt School, this book offers a fresh perspective on the matter, advocating for a critical theory of nature that seeks to redefine our understanding of the natural world.

Central to this theoretical framework is the concept of dialectics, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things and the constant interplay of opposing forces. Through the lens of natural history, the book explores the historical development of human-nature relations, highlighting the exploitative and destructive tendencies of capitalism. It also emphasizes the importance of materialism, recognizing the material basis of social and ecological processes.

The Frankfurt School's preeminent thinkers, including Georg Lukács, Ernst Bloch, Theodor Adorno, and Alfred Schmidt, are showcased for their ability to diagnose the intricate relationship between capitalism and nature, avoiding the extremes of absolutization and obliteration. Their insights offer a nuanced understanding of how capitalism permeates every aspect of the natural world, while still maintaining a critical distinction between the social and natural domains.

A critical theory of nature goes beyond mere critique and offers practical implications for addressing the current climate crisis. It challenges other contemporary theoretical approaches, such as eco-Marxism, social constructivism, and new materialism, by positioning itself as the only approach with genuine radical potential. By emphasizing the interconnectedness of human and natural systems, the theory provides a framework for understanding and responding to the urgent challenges of our time.

However, it is important to approach utopian idealism with caution, as it may lead to false hope and unrealistic goals for change. The book carefully measures the potential for utopian thinking while setting out realistic objectives for transformative action. Environmental change is viewed through the lens of recent cultural currents and movements, such as the Anthropocene and concepts of apocalypse and postapocalypse. This analysis helps to situate the power of a critical theory of nature in relation to broader understandings of our relationship with the natural world.

In conclusion, Towards a Critical Theory of Nature offers a comprehensive and thought-provoking exploration of the current crisis, challenging the dominant narratives of capitalism and nature. By embracing dialectics, natural history, and materialism, the book provides a powerful tool for an anti-capitalist critique of society's extractive relationship with the natural world. Through its nuanced understanding of the interconnections between human and natural systems, the theory offers a path towards a more sustainable and just future.

Weight: 540g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350159501