MACAP Essay Framework and Bibliography 24.10.22

Aldous George MACAP709 Proposed Essay Title:

Unplugging from the Anthropocene and transcending through ‘biopsychophysis’

‘biopsychophysis’, where health depends on biological, psychological and natural environment factors – reflecting a ‘mind-body-nature connection’.

The human condition is such that pain and effort are not just symptoms which can be removed without changing life itself; they are rather the modes in which life itself, together with the necessity to which it is bound, makes itself felt. For mortals, the “easy life of the gods” would be a lifeless life. – Hannah Arendt

This essay will be about creating debate about technological ontology with a twist of encouraging a decortication of an inevitable cyborg story and offering a consoling stimulation of stepping back into the woods, climbing trees and playing with fire and reconnecting with nature.

The fundamental issue/idea/concept will be to make an informed resolution to reconnect with nature because of technological concerns, and make a conscious decision to rewild ourselves, in particular, a journey into the woods, the trees and all the biodiversity they offer.

Encouraging people away from screens and into the sometimes ephemeral beauty found in nature and to drift their minds eye into a more biophilic gaze, from climbing trees and experiencing 'canopy-eyes' to creating fire, re-igniting the ever fading light that was once a bright flame representing the relationship we should always keep alive, to remind ourselves of the reciprocity we need to have with the planet Earth and the ongoing dependence and kinship needed with our natural world.

Creating debate about where a transhumanistic outlook could be the downfall of humanity or at least strip us of our ‘being human’ as we know it at present, before posthumanism really kicks in….and defining what I feel as an inevitable fall back to old ways and even possibly the animism of fundamental life skills.

In short:

The possible Icarus effect of pursuing transhumanism, where failure is brought about by the very elements that will lead to an initial success and why nature will be our saviour.

Essay Framework:

Introduction:

A brief introduction to the ontological debate about transhumanism, its pros, and the same with a more biophilic/biopsychophysis outlook and can the two merge?

Chapter 1:

A critique of transhumanism and biophilia with reference to research in these areas.

Chapter 2:

The benefits of nature and restabilising a connection with it, especially from the concerned viewpoint of a failed future within human society due to technological advancement.

Chapter 3:

A brief look at artists that encourage a reconnection with nature. (Or this will just pop up throughout the essay)

Conclusion:

The importance of at least striking a balance with nature and technology, if not becoming more consumed with nature rather than technology.

Bibliography:

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Arendt, H. (1995) Men in Dark Times. San Diego, CA: Harcourt, Brace & Company.

Bailey, R. (2004) Transhumanism: The most dangerous idea?, Reason.com. Available at: https://reason.com/2004/08/25/transhumanism-the-most-dangero/ (Accessed: October 24, 2022).

Barkham, P. (2018) Branching out: Why artist Andy Goldsworthy is leaving his comfort zone, The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/aug/03/from-stone-flows-to-hedge-swims-why-artist-andy-goldsworthy-is-branching-out (Accessed: October 24, 2022).

Barnes, S. and Wright, C.L. (2018) Rewild yourself: 23 spellbinding ways to make nature more visible. London: Simon & Schuster.

Bennett, C.-L. (2021) Pond. London, United Kingdom: Fitzcarraldo Editions.

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