A Philosophy of the Insect (Paperback)

The world of insects is at once beneath our feet and unfathomably alien. Small and innumerable, insects surround and disrupt us even as we scarcely pay them any mind. Insects confront us with the limits of what is imaginable, while at the same time being essential to the everyday functioning of all terrestrial ecosystems. In this book, the philosopher and historian of science Jean-Marc Drouin contends that insects pose a fundamental challenge to philosophy. Exploring the questions of what insects are and what scientific, aesthetic, ethical, and historical relationships they have with humanity, he argues that they force us to reconsider our ideas of the animal and the social. He traces the role that insects have played in language, mythology, literature, entomology, sociobiology, and taxonomy over the centuries. Drouin emphasizes the links between humanistic and scientific approaches-how we have projected human roles onto insects and seen ourselves in insect form. Caught between the animal and plant kingdoms, insects force us to confront and reevaluate our notions of gender, family, society, struggle, the division of labor, social organization, and individual and collective intelligence. A remarkably original and thought-provoking work, A Philosophy of the Insect is an important book for animal studies, environmental ethics, and the history and philosophy of science.

General

Imprint:	Columbia University Press
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	October 2019
First published:	2019
Authors:	Jean-Marc Drouin
Translators:	Anne Trager
Dimensions:	216 x 140 x 12mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback - Trade
Pages:	240
ISBN-13:	978-0-231-17579-1
Languages:	English
Subtitles:	French
Categories:	Books > Humanities > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Ethics & moral philosophy > General Books > Science & Mathematics > Biology, life sciences > Zoology & animal sciences > Invertebrates > Insects (entomology) Books > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Ethics & moral philosophy > General Promotions
LSN:	0-231-17579-5
Barcode:	9780231175791

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