Critical review of international social and political philosophy
Paginering:
Jaargang 9 (2006) nr. 2 pagina's 305-322
Jaar:
2006-06-01
Inhoud:
A nihilist is one who wants nothingness in the place of what is. Does John Gray in his book, Straw Dogs, wish the end of the world? No: but he does contemplate with calm and even some pleasure the end of the human race, or at the least its diminishment to a small fraction of its current numbers. He is appalled by the irrepressible human destructiveness of nature, whether animals, plants or inanimate formations, and finds in this destructiveness the ironical source of human self-destruction. The only way in which human destructiveness can end is for the human race to end or be substantially reduced. The restored health of nature demands the ruin of humanity, which, unchecked, ruins nature while preparing its own ruin. Much of the book is devoted to deflating human pride as shown in its claim to specialness. This claim is the principal source of human destructiveness of nature. Humanism, the Enlightenment and doctrines of progress bear much of the responsibility for such pride. If we could see through the claim to human specialness, we would not lament in advance the inevitable passing of humanity from the scene. The success of Gray's deflationary project is mixed, but his book is completely successful as a work of provocation and may even, despite its apparent intentions, inspire some of its readers to adopt a chastened humanism.
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