Dark Ecology

Synopsis

Timothy Morton argues that ecological awareness in the present Anthropocene era takes the form of a strange loop or Möbius strip, twisted to have only one side. Deckard travels this oedipal path in Blade Runner (1982) when he learns that he might be the enemy he has been ordered to pursue. Ecological awareness takes this shape because ecological phenomena have a loop form that is also fundamental to the structure of how things are.The logistics of agricultural society resulted in global warming and hardwired dangerous ideas about life-forms into the human mind. Dark ecology puts us in an uncanny position of radical self-knowledge, illuminating our place in the biosphere and our belonging to a species in a sense that is far less obvious than we like to think. Morton explores the logical foundations of the ecological crisis, which is suffused with the melancholy and negativity of coexistence yet evolving, as we explore its loop form, into something playful, anarchic, and comedic. His work is a skilled fusion of humanities and scientific scholarship, incorporating the theories and findings of philosophy, anthropology, literature, ecology, biology, and physics. Morton hopes to reestablish our ties to nonhuman beings and to help us rediscover the playfulness and joy that can brighten the dark, strange loop we traverse.

Summary

Chapter 1: Uncanny Ecology

* Explores the concept of the "uncanny" in ecology, where familiar ecosystems become strange and unsettling.
* Example: The proliferation of invasive species that disrupt local ecosystems and create a sense of displacement and alienation.

Chapter 2: Haunting the Anthropocene

* Examines the idea of "haunting" in the Anthropocene, with past environmental injustices continuing to impact the present.
* Example: The persistent presence of toxic waste sites and their ongoing legacy of environmental contamination and health concerns.

Chapter 3: Necropolitics and Environmental Justice

* Considers the intersection of environmental degradation and systemic oppression, known as "necropolitics."
* Example: The disproportionate exposure of marginalized communities to environmental hazards, such as air pollution and lead poisoning.

Chapter 4: Elemental Media

* Explores the role of non-human elements (e.g., fire, water, air) as agents in environmental transformations.
* Example: The devastating impact of wildfires on ecosystems and the role of smoke as a vector for environmental toxins.

Chapter 5: Biopolitics and the Politics of Extinction

* Examines the ways in which human interventions in ecosystems shape species survival and extinction.
* Example: The loss of biodiversity due to habitat destruction and the role of conservation efforts in delaying this process.

Chapter 6: The Anthropocene Monument

* Discusses the idea of the Anthropocene as a geological marker of human impacts on the environment.
* Example: The construction of the Earth Spires monument in Iceland to commemorate the beginning of the Anthropocene era.

Chapter 7: The Dark Ecology of the Anthropocene

* Synthesizes the concept of "dark ecology," which emphasizes the transformative and often destructive power of human interventions in ecosystems.
* Example: The use of high-resolution satellite imagery to monitor environmental changes and the ethical implications of such surveillance.

Chapter 8: Growing the Revolution

* Calls for a rethinking of human-environment relationships and a shift towards sustainable and equitable practices.
* Example: The emergence of urban farming and community gardens as forms of environmental activism and food security.

Chapter 9: Envisioning the Future

* Explores the potential for environmental restoration and the creation of more just and sustainable societies.
* Example: The use of biomimicry to design innovative solutions inspired by nature's resilience and adaptability.