多物種人類學

This course introduces the emerging field of multispecies anthropology, which questions the Enlightenment notion of “the human” and the associated human-exceptionalism and human-centrism. Too often we take for granted “the human” as discrete, autonomous individuals, each interacting with the “natural environment.” In fact, however, the boundaries between the human (culture) and the non-human (nature) are constantly changing, if not altogether dissipated. From fields such as developmental biology, environmental humanities, science and technology studies, and anthropology, we are learning new ways that the landscapes and histories of humans are necessarily bound up with those of other non-human actors. Therefore, instead of taking trees, animals, fungi, and microbes as symbols to think with, as food for humans, or simply as part of the “environment,” a multispecies approach explores how various living organisms shape, and are shaped by, political, economic, and cultural forces. No longer confines its object of study to the human/anthropos, a multispecies anthropology is centrally concerned with the effects of humans’ entanglements with other kinds of living or nonliving things- in short, HOW WE ALWAYS “BECOME HUMANS WITH OTHERS”. It is in this spirit that this course seek to address the following questions: What does it mean for anthropology and social sciences more generally to think of the nature-culture interface through the lens of plants, fish, mushrooms or earth beings? How has this turn to the multispecies and the more-than-human posed new ontological, epistemological, and methodological questions? What implications might it have for anthropology’s key concepts, assumptions, and practices? How does it also challenge conventional definitions of life, species, and humanity? Most importantly, how do we undermine the epoch’s intersecting legacies of capitalism, racism, and patriarchy, while engaging the more-than-human world in its entangled death and liveability? * This syllabus is subject to change. All changes will be announced and explained in class and updated on this site: https://tinyurl.com/y9zufc2a 西方現代性政治想像的「人」,是具有天賦基本權利、自主與獨立存在的個體。然 而從演化生物學、環境史、科技與社會研究到人類學都不斷揭露「人類」與其他物種甚至非生物之間不可分的關係。尤其二十世紀末以來,氣候變遷、常態化的環境污染、以及森林大火、全球疫情等愈形頻繁的複合性鉅型災難,代表人類活動已對地球產生深遠的衝擊。生態問題的常態化一方面突顯了人類作為一個物種的生存困境,也揭示了資本主義全球化的生產模式可能已將地球系統的運作導向崩潰的臨界點,從而破壞了人類自身與其他生命形式的生存基礎。究竟,人類與其他物種有沒有可能共存於世,又該如何共存於世? 此外,既然人類學是一門以人類物種概念作為知識範疇的學科,那麼前述危機與問題意識又如何挑戰人類學的理論傳統、實作方法,與基本預設?儘管我們無法想像一本沒有努爾牛、初步蘭島芋頭、峇里島鬥雞,與西印度群島甘蔗的人類學教科書,但動物與植物在過往人類學理論中確實往往只是扮演「好吃又好思」(good to eat and to think with)的角色。究竟,一個從多物種 (multispecies)與「多於人」(more-than-human)視角觀察與思考的人類學將如何挑戰自身學科的核心提問、回應二十一世紀的物種生存危機,甚至進一步參與打造不一樣的跨物種結盟政治? 「多物種人類學」這堂新課程將始於思考何謂「物種」與「生命」,依序研讀來自不同領域、努力突破人類物種中心主義,也突破「人 vs 非人」、「自然 vs 社會」等既成框架中無所不在的二元視角的理論與民族誌寫作,逐步體察這些跨學科與跨文化的思想資源如何互相啟發與對話。課程也將邀請台灣正在進行相關研究的人類學、社會學、與地理學者來分享他們最新的研究成果,涉及議題包括入侵物種、物種正義,與全球疫病。「多物種人類學」其實當然不只是人類學,而是朝向一種非二元、多學科、跨物種的「觸生式思考」,期望有助於更多人理解 :WE HAVE NEVER BEEN HUMAN,人是在與其他物種的相遇中成為人。 *正式課綱將視參與者以及進度微調,所有更動將即時更新於此:https://tinyurl.com/y9zufc2a (限課堂參與者) ,選課系統課綱僅供選課參考。第一堂課後不接受加簽加選。

This course is designed as an intensive and bilingual seminar. You are expected to read ALL the designated texts in your preferred language, participated in class discussion actively, and turn in writing assignments in your preferred language in a timely manner: Class Attendance and active participation (10%): This class requires your commitment and engaged participation. Everyone is allowed two free, no-questions-asked absences during the semester, which means that more than three absences = dropping from this class. Also, you may be asked to leave the classroom if you are found chatting or using social media during the discussion. LEADING Discussion (30%). TWO Topical Reviews (40%). For Section ONE & TWO you will write a review or commentary on the assigned readings. Reviews cannot be turned in late. *useful guide for writing critical memo: 林國明(2009)如何寫文獻評論:單篇期刊論文 FINAL paper (20%) You will be expected to write a short paper of 10-12 pages on a topic of your choosing. The topic should be closely related to class readings and in-class discussions. Each student will present her/his draft paper and receive feedback on 1/6. The finalized version of the paper is due by noon on Tuesday 2021/1/13. * Academic Honesty: please familiarize yourself with university rules on plagiarism and academic honesty (r.f. http://www6.cityu.edu.hk/ah/academic_honesty.htm). If you have any questions on how to cite material, please consult with the instructor.

Lynn Margulis & Dorion Sagan, 1986, Microcosmos: Four Billion Years of Evolution from Our Microbial Ancestors.《演化之舞:細菌主演的地球生命史》 Deborah Bird Rose, 2011, Wild Dog Dreaming《野犬傳命:在澳洲原住民的智慧中尋找生態共存的出路》譯者/ 黃懿翎 紅桌文化 2019. All other readings will be online by the end of the third week.

地點

Office:HK 129

時間

Office hours: Wed. 12-14 (by appointment only)

聯絡方式

Email: yenlingtsai@nctu.edu.tw