Introduction: Theory for the warming condition -- On the building of nature: against constructionism -- On combined development: against hybridism -- On what matter does: against new materialism -- On unicorns and baboons: for climate realism -- On the perils of property: sketches for tracking the storm -- On the use of opposites: in praise of polarisation -- On unruly nature: an experiment in ecological autonomism -- Conclusion: One step back, two steps forwards.
Summary:
"An attack on the idea that nature and society are impossible to distinguish from each other In a world careening towards climate chaos, nature is dead. It can no longer be separated from society. Everything is a blur of hybrids, where humans possess no exceptional agency that sets them apart from dead matter. But is it really so? In this blistering polemic and theoretical manifesto, Andreas Malm develops a contrary argument: in a warming world, nature comes roaring back, and it is more important than ever to distinguish between the natural and the social. Only with a unique agency attributed to humans can resistance become conceivable. Deflating several prominent currents in contemporary theory--constructionism, hybridism, new materialism, posthumanism--and submitting the influential work of Bruno Latour to particularly biting critique, Malm shows that action against fossil fuels is best served by a theory that takes nature, society and the dialectics between them very seriously indeed"-- Provided by publisher. "In a world careening towards climate chaos, nature is dead. It can no longer be separated from society. Everything is a blur of hybrids, where humans possess no exceptional agency to set them apart from dead matter. But is it really so? In this blistering polemic and theoretical manifesto, Andreas Malm develops a counterargument: in a warming world, nature comes roaring back, and it is more important than ever to distinguish between the natural and the social. Only with a unique agency attributed to humans can resistance become conceivable"-- Provided by publisher.
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