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Being and Swine

The End of Nature (As We Knew It)

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Forget everything you think you know about nature. Fahim Amir’s award-winning book takes pure delight in posing unexpected questions: Are animals victims of human domination, or heroes of resistance? Is nature pristine and defenceless, or sentient and devious? Is being human really a prerequisite for being political?

In a world where birds on Viagra punch above their weight and termites hijack the heating systems of major cities, animals can be recast as vigilantes, agitators, and public enemies in their own right. Under Amir’s magic spell, pigs transform from slaughterhouse innocents into rioting revolutionaries, pigeons from urban pests into unruly militants, honeybees from virtuous fuzzballs into shameless centrefold models for eco-capitalism. As paws, claws, talons, and hooves seize the means of production, Being and Swine spirals higher and higher into a heady thesis that becomes more convincing by the minute.

At the heart of Amir’s writing is a deep optimism and bracingly fresh reading of Marxist, post-colonial, and feminist theory, building upon the radical scholarship of Donna J. Haraway and others. Contrarian, whip-smart, and wildly innovative, no other book will laugh at your convictions quite like this one.

Contributors

Fahim Amir

Fahim Amir is a Viennese philosopher and author. He has taught at various universities and art academies in Europe and Latin America. His research explores the thresholds of nature, cultures and urbanism; performance and utopia; and colonial historicity and modernism.

Geoffrey C. Howes

Geoffrey C. Howes has translated books by Peter Rosei, Robert Musil, Jürg Laederach, and Gabriele Petricek, as well as stories, essays, and poems by more than thirty authors.

Corvin Russell

Corvin Russell is an activist, writer, and translator based in Toronto. His current focus is Indigenous solidarity and environmental justice work.

Chapter Title Contents Contributors Pages Year Price

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In the preface, philosopher Fahim Amir discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our perspective of the natural world and the ways in which we have begun to perceive animals as political … ; ; 5 $0.50

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In the introduction, philosopher Fahim Amir outlines his argument that animals are political entities. This chapter includes an explanation of the author’s definition of the term … ; ; 25 $2.50

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In this chapter, philosopher Fahim Amir discusses the complex relationship between human society and pigeons. The chapter includes a brief overview of the history of pigeons in urban spaces and … ; ; 19 $1.90

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In this chapter, philosopher Fahim Amir provides a brief overview of the history of pigs in agriculture in Europe. The chapter also includes a discussion of the ways in which pigs have acted as a … ; ; 29 $2.90

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In this chapter, philosopher Fahim Amir discusses the rise of urbanization in the western world and the role that animals have played in this process. Included in the chapter are a discussion of … ; ; 37 $3.70

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In this chapter, philosopher Fahim Amir discusses the impact of pollution on the animal world and the forms of pollution our society creates as a byproduct of pharmaceutical production, power … ; ; 34 $3.40

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In this chapter, philosopher Fahim Amir discusses the role played by various insects and how our perception of them differs based on the impact they have on human activities. The chapter includes … ; ; 44 $4.40

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In the final chapter, philosopher Fahim Amir discusses how we live in a black hole of overconsumption and by changing our perspective on the animal world, we can escape from that black hole. ; ; 24 $2.40