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Can Animism Save the World? Reflections on Personhood and Complexity in the Ecological Crisis

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  3. Vol. 71, Issue 1
  4. pp. 73–92

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Sprenger, G. Can Animism Save the World? Reflections on Personhood and Complexity in the Ecological Crisis. Sociologus, 71(1), 73-92. https://doi.org/10.3790/soc.71.1.73
Sprenger, Guido "Can Animism Save the World? Reflections on Personhood and Complexity in the Ecological Crisis" Sociologus 71.1, , 73-92. https://doi.org/10.3790/soc.71.1.73
Sprenger, Guido: Can Animism Save the World? Reflections on Personhood and Complexity in the Ecological Crisis, in: Sociologus, vol. 71, iss. 1, 73-92, [online] https://doi.org/10.3790/soc.71.1.73
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Can Animism Save the World? Reflections on Personhood and Complexity in the Ecological Crisis

Sprenger, Guido

Sociologus, Vol. 71 (2021), Iss. 1 : pp. 73–92

4 Citations (CrossRef)

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Article Details

Publisher Name
Duncker & Humblot
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3790/soc.71.1.73
Language
English
Pages
20
Keywords

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Author Details

Guido Sprenger, Institut für Ethnologie, Universität Heidelberg.

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Abstract

The term “animism” is at once a fantasy internal to modernity and a semiotic conduit enabling a serious inquiry into non-modern phenomena that radically call into question the modern distinction of nature and culture. Therefore, I suggest that the labelling of people, practices or ideas as “animist” is a strategic one. I also raise the question if animism can help to solve the modern ecological crisis that allegedly stems from the nature-culture divide. In particular, animism makes it possible to recognize personhood in non-humans, thus creating moral relationships with the non-human world. A number of scholars and activists identify animism as respect for all living beings and as intimate relationships with nature and its spirits. However, this argument still presupposes the fixity of the ontological status of beings as alive or persons. A different view of animism highlights concepts of fluid and unstable persons that emerge from ongoing communicative processes. I argue that the kind of attentiveness that drives fluid personhood may be supportive of a politics of life that sees relationships with non-humans in terms of moral commitment.

Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
Guido Sprenger: Can Animism Save the World? Reflections on Personhood and Complexity in the Ecological Crisis 1
Abstract 1
1. Introduction 1
2. Animism as Politics of Life 4
3. Crises to Choose from 6
4. Shifting Personhood 8
5. Complexity and Opacity of the Other 1
6. Implications Instead of Conclusions 1
References 1

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