Timothy LeCain | "A Thousand Dead Snow Geese: The Matter of the Non-Human in the Age of Humans"

TL;DR

The death of thousands of snow geese in the Berkeley pit illustrates the need for a less anthropocentric understanding of the world and highlights the creative power of the material world.

Transcript

now let me turn to tonight's main event I'm so pleased to welcome professor Timothy la cane to Harvard into the forum thank you for joining us professor Liu cane is normally associate professor of history at Montana State University but he joins us this year from the Center for Advanced Study at the norwegian academy of science and letters in oslo ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🏂 The death of thousands of snow geese highlights the need for a less anthropocentric understanding of the world.
• ✊ The snow geese challenge human exceptionalism and demonstrate the creative power of the material world.
• ✊ The Berkeley pit serves as a reminder of the destructive power of materiality and the need to address power imbalances.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why should we care about the deaths of a few thousand snow geese in the Berkeley pit?

The deaths of the snow geese highlight the need for a less anthropocentric understanding of the world and a recognition of the creative power of the material world. The story of the geese challenges human exceptionalism and calls for a broader understanding of intelligence and creativity in nonhuman creatures.

Q: How does the concept of the Anthropocene fit into this discussion?

The concept of the Anthropocene, while highlighting human-induced planetary changes, can perpetuate anthropocentrism. Instead of naming the current era after humans, the focus should be on understanding the interconnectedness and interdependence of all beings.

Q: How does new materialism address the issue of power and power imbalances?

New materialism highlights the need to challenge power imbalances and considers the creative power of materiality as it relates to intelligence, culture, and consciousness. It calls for a broader understanding of agency and recognizes the interconnectedness of all beings.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The death of thousands of snow geese in the Berkeley pit raises questions about human exceptionalism and the need for a less anthropocentric view of the world.

• Snow geese, adaptable to human ways, demonstrate the creative power of the material world and challenge the idea that humans are the sole creators of culture and intelligence.

• The Berkeley pit serves as a reminder of the destructive power of materiality and the need to address power imbalances in the world.

• The story of the snow geese calls for a broader understanding of intelligence and creativity in nonhuman creatures and the recognition of the interconnectedness of all beings.