ESHS/HSS Annual Meeting

On compatibility with Amazonian perspectivism as an epistemological criterion - the case of Anne Conway and ecofeminism

• In Event: Science and Empire in the Anthropocene: Towards an Environmental Shift 1- Imperial roots of Plantationocene and Anthropocene

English Abstract

In the first part of my talk, I outline Amazonian perspectivism and propose it might be envisaged as a relevant epistemological criterion in the development of more deliberately situated successor sciences, which could potentially be more robust for dealing with the complex challenges posed by the Anthropocene and inform a post capitalist approach to Brazilian rainforest territories. Then, in the second part, in order to show how such a criterion could be applied, I turn my attention to the vitalist theory of matter advanced by British philosopher Anne (Finch) Conway (1631-1679). Following the ecofeminist tradition which views her theory of substance as not as compatible with capitalist exploitation of Nature as Hobbesian materialism or Cartesian dualism, I propose that her philosophy is compatible with Amazonian perspectivism in at least three important aspects: (i) the assignment of the attribute life to material substance, (ii) multiple temporalities, as opposed to more absolutist views about time, and (iii) the role played by animal souls. Finally, I argue that Conway’s reception in contemporary ecofeminist circles might be justified by the aspects of her philosophy which seem compatible with Amazonian perspectivism.

Author

• Anastasia Guidi, ABC Federal University (Brazil)