Introduction to 'Biocultural Creatures' by Samantha Frost

Chapter Title: Introduction

Aim of the Book

The primary aim of the book "Biocultural Creatures" by Samantha Frost is to elaborate on a new theory of the human. This theory emerges in response to critiques of the human category and human exceptionalism, which have rendered traditional notions of humanity politically ineffective in addressing contemporary crises.

Theoretical Context

  1. Critiques of Human Exceptionalism
    The book begins by acknowledging that recent critiques have profoundly challenged the coherence and efficacy of the concept of the human. Critics argue that the human has historically been defined by an illusion of mastery over nature and that the traditional characteristics of humanity—qualities that once distinguished humans from other beings—have been discredited through various analyses.

  2. Human Impact on the Planet
    Frost discusses the significant evidence indicating that humanity has become a major geological force impacting the Earth's systems, a concept which has led to the characterization of the current epoch as the Anthropocene. Humans are now called upon to acknowledge and act on their collective responsibility for the ecological crises facing the planet.

The Paradox of Human Agency

Frost highlights a paradox: while critiques suggest that the notion of the human is hollow, contemporary realities show that humans function as a geological force, thus complicating our understanding of human agency and responsibility.

Reconsidering the Concept of the Human

  1. Human Creatureliness
    Frost proposes a focus on human creatureliness, emphasizing that like all creatures, humans derive their existence and sustenance from specific habitats.
  2. Rejection of Hubris
    She insists on rejecting the hubristic notion that makes humans an almost incomprehensible living phenomenon disconnected from their habitats, arguing instead for a view that recognizes their biological and environmental embeddedness.

The Term Biocultural

  1. Definition
    The term "biocultural" is introduced to signify the reciprocal relationship between biology and culture in determining human existence.
  2. Biological Embeddedness
    Frost articulates that all creatures, including humans, are biocultural due to their development in environments that dictate biological and cultural processes.
  3. Culture as a Verb
    The use of "cultural" as a verb implies a process of cultivation that encompasses various social, material, and symbolic dimensions and requires a recognition of the complex interplay between culture and biology.

The Critique of the Human

Frost identifies three interrelated critiques of the human:

  1. Composition of Human Community
    Critics argue that the human community is often defined in exclusionary ways, with historically marginalized groups being deemed less than fully human based on various social constructs.
  2. Rights Associated with Humanity
    The association of rights and responsibilities with the concept of humanity is challenged; the historical interpretation of humaneness is seen as inherently biased and often linked to domination.
  3. Distinct Human Actions
    The uniqueness of human action and agency has been questioned, with scholars suggesting that human actions cannot be detached from their social, material, and contextual influences.

Jurgen Habermas and the Essence of the Human

Jurgen Habermas argues for the preservation of a distinctive human essence underpinning moral duties and obligations as essential for moral communities. This asserts that equality and moral worth depend on a biological essence, a view contested by many critics.

Historical Exclusion via the Human Category

Frost examines how historical exclusions regarding who is considered "human" are shaped by power dynamics central to nation-building and imperial expansion. Scholars have shown how various marginalized populations were systematically deemed less human due to constructed deficiencies.

The Human as an Aspiration

Frost concludes that humanity should be viewed not as a fixed category but as an aspiration, achievable through recognition and agreement among societal members. This conception moves beyond a static state of being and emphasizes a relational, dynamic quality to human identity.

The Three Threads of Argument in Critiques

  1. Human Exceptionalism
    Critiques argue that the conception of humans as exceptional beings is deeply problematic, supported by an ongoing quest for distinctive criteria that fails to account for shared capacities with other species.
  2. Human Rights and Dignity
    The differentiation of humans from other beings cannot solidly anchor the rights and dignity afforded solely to humans, leading to the potential obsolescence of the human category.
  3. Agency and Action
    Contrary to traditional views of autonomous human agency, modern critiques propose a more intertwined notion of agency that includes the impacts of various influences on human actions, which suggests that humans are enmeshed within broader systems and networks.

Conclusion

Frost asserts that the book aims to present a reconceptualization of the human in the context of biocultural creatures, moving towards embracing the complexities of human life within a vast array of interrelationships and mutual influences, while recognizing and addressing the crises of the Anthropocene. This includes an exploration of how emerging scientific insights resonate with and can enhance contemporary theoretical critiques of the human, ultimately urging a nuanced understanding of humanity that embraces both biology and culture in order to rethink political agency and responsibility for global crises.