Title
Vibrant Matter: A Political Ecology of Things (a John Hope Franklin Center Book),Used
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In Vibrant Matter the political theorist Jane Bennett, renowned for her work on nature, ethics, and affect, shifts her focus from the human experience of things to things themselves. Bennett argues that political theory needs to do a better job of recognizing the active participation of nonhuman forces in events. Toward that end, she theorizes a vital materiality that runs through and across bodies, both human and nonhuman. Bennett explores how political analyses of public events might change were we to acknowledge that agency always emerges as theeffect of ad hoc configurations of human and nonhuman forces. She suggests that recognizing that agency is distributed this way, and is not solely the province of humans, might spur the cultivation of a more responsible, ecologically sound politics: a politics less devoted to blaming and condemning individuals than to discerning the web of forces affecting situations and events.Bennett examines the political and theoretical implications of vital materialism through extended discussions of commonplace things and physical phenomena including stem cells, fish oils, electricity, metal, and trash. She reflects on the vital power of material formations such as landfills, which generate lively streams of chemicals, and omega3 fatty acids, which can transform brain chemistry and mood. Along the way, she engages with the concepts and claims of Spinoza, Nietzsche, Thoreau, Darwin, Adorno, and Deleuze, disclosing a long history of thinking about vibrant matter in Western philosophy, including attempts by Kant, Bergson, and the embryologist Hans Driesch to name the vital force inherent in material forms. Bennett concludes by sketching the contours of a green materialist ecophilosophy.
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- Q: What is the main focus of 'Vibrant Matter' by Jane Bennett? A: 'Vibrant Matter' shifts the focus from human experiences to the agency of nonhuman forces, arguing that political theory should recognize the active participation of material things in events.
- Q: How does Jane Bennett define 'vital materiality'? A: Vital materiality is theorized as the active participation of both human and nonhuman forces, suggesting that agency emerges from configurations of these forces rather than being exclusive to humans.
- Q: What types of examples does Bennett use to illustrate her theories? A: Bennett discusses commonplace items like stem cells, fish oils, electricity, metal, and trash, examining their political and theoretical implications in the context of vital materialism.
- Q: How many pages is 'Vibrant Matter'? A: 'Vibrant Matter' contains 200 pages, providing a concise yet comprehensive exploration of its themes.
- Q: What is the condition of the book being sold? A: The book is in 'New' condition, ensuring that it is free from wear or damage.
- Q: Who is the author of 'Vibrant Matter'? A: The author of 'Vibrant Matter' is Jane Bennett, a political theorist known for her work on nature, ethics, and affect.
- Q: When was 'Vibrant Matter' published? A: 'Vibrant Matter' was published on January 4, 2010, marking its entry into discussions on political ecology.
- Q: What is the binding type of this book? A: This edition of 'Vibrant Matter' is a paperback, making it lightweight and easy to handle.
- Q: Is there a specific edition of 'Vibrant Matter'? A: The edition of 'Vibrant Matter' is classified as 'unknown,' indicating it may not be a special or limited edition.
- Q: What themes does Bennett explore in her book? A: Bennett explores themes of agency, ecological politics, and the interplay between human and nonhuman forces, advocating for a more responsible approach to political theory.