Nature is a racist concept

shiels

shiels

_
Do you agree

In many public statements, conferences and interviews, you have declared that nature is a racist concept. Can you explain this idea? In reality it is simple! Nature, as I have already said, should be different from culture or society or that which is human. This clear distinction is biologically incorrect. Obviously, we have evolved from other forms of life and we are ecologically connected with them. What does this difference explain? The demarcation line between “us” and “them” is known, in robot design, as uncanny valley. Robots which seem human appear stranger and more disturbing as they approach similarity with our own image. This valley includes beings which racists call subhuman, inhuman, those who are treated worse that what we call animals - considering how the Nazi party supported animal rights and how much Hitler loved his dog Blondi. This is perfectly in line with Nazism. Dogs are natural, the humans in the uncanny valley are not. Nature is a racist concept.

www.domusweb.it

Timothy Morton, the interview: “Nature is a racist concept”

The English philosopher Timothy Morton speaks of his vision of the future, the concept of hyperobjects and the implications of the project on the universe.
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version

version

Well-known member
That excerpt's a bit garbled. I've read it twice now and I'm still not sure what he's on about.
 
version

version

Well-known member
shiels said:
The idea of nature is always underpinned by purity and therefore always excludes and divides
Click to expand...
Yeah, I get this bit. You see it with the far right. It's the stuff about robots and the uncanny valley that scrambles the message.
 
version

version

Well-known member
I don't think his argument holds up when you consider people who aren't racist also use and accept the concept of nature. The point about the racist viewing dogs as natural, but the target of their racism as unnatural doesn't seem to hold up either when you consider the racists who view other people as being like wild animals. That, to me, suggests the racist views themselves as somehow superior to and separate from nature rather than seeing themselves as natural and others as unnatural.
 
woops

woops

is not like other people
i think he's saying racism victims can be grouped with wierd robots who appear almost human. almost, but not quite and therefore justifiably victimised. he doesn't make it ultra-clear though does he considering he's one of the most acclaimed philosophers
 
woops

woops

is not like other people
Nature, as I have already said, should be different from culture or society or that which is human. This clear distinction is biologically incorrect.

make your mind up tim
 
woops

woops

is not like other people
Obviously, we have evolved from other forms of life and we are ecologically connected with them. What does this difference explain?

what difference?! what are you on about. why are you acclaimed
 
luka

luka

Well-known member

Panning Gems

Tracks that offer something different when balanced completely to the left or right. Do it through speakers though, doing it through headphones makes you feel jetlagged.
www.dissensus.com
 
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