Strategic posthumanism: Confronting the fear of anthropomorphism,and finding brains in rivers

Abstract

In recent climate philosophy debates, concepts of more-than-human agency and flat ontologies have faced critical scrutiny, particularly by eco-Marxist scholars. With the rise of philosophical theories such as new materialism and posthumanism, some scholars argue that this turn towards nonhuman agency risks obscuring the distinctly anthropogenic origin of the ongoing ecological crises. Yet, prevailing critiques often neglect to engage substantively with Indigenous epistemologies, despite their growing prominence and normative authority within global climate discourses. Rather, the criticism is directed at what it perceives as anthropomorphic projections and fantastical notions – rivers endowed with minds or stones imbued with desire.

This article challenges the dismissal of anthropomorphism by arguing that climate philosophers would benefit from deeper engagement with Indigenous perspectives, which offer vital insights into the ethical and ontological dimensions of nonhuman agency. It argues that the conventional use of ‘anthropomorphism’ as a pejorative obscures the historically contingent and culturally embedded boundaries between humans and nature. By tracing the entangled histories of ridicule surrounding anthropomorphic attribution alongside the systemic dehumanization of Indigenous peoples, this study elucidates how both discourses contribute to the othering of nature and the racialized naturalization of Indigenous others. But to fully recognize these interconnections, we need to disentangle the problematic history of anthropomorphism and the accusation that it presents towards Indigenous ontologies.

The article identifies key points of contention concerning the validity, utility and strategic value of extending agency beyond the human. Attending to relational ontologies prevalent in Indigenous scholarship reveals the risk that dismissing nonhuman agency may perpetuate epistemic injustices against Indigenous peoples. To navigate these complexities, the article proposes the concept of strategic posthumanism – a theoretical orientation that brings divergent approaches together by fostering a decentering of the human subject without erasing historically grounded political and ethical responsibilities.