Controlling Animals: Vain Attempts at Immortality in Three Works of Fiction
Summary
dysfunctional attempts at immortality through the interpretation of three works of fiction. In this work, the author demonstrates to readers the flawed pursuit of attempting to avert death through the subjugation of animals. This pursuit is often orchestrated under the guise of the biblical concept of dominion from the Book of Genesis. In short, readers will gain a deeper understanding of the inextricable bond to the natural world and the fragile and tenuous existence in which humans live. The text also underscores the impending need for humans to make meaningful choices that are useful to the world while maintaining respect and deference to their animal co-inhabitants.
Excerpt
Table Of Contents
- Cover
- Title
- Copyright
- About the author
- About the book
- This eBook can be cited
- Contents
- Introduction: Consciousness, Immortality and Nature as Human Adversary
- Chapter 1: An Ancillary Note about Death as It Relates to Nature
- The Relevance of Becker in Relation to Analysis of the Fiction in Question / Death Is a Star When Red in Tooth and Claw
- The Island of Dr. Moreau – A Case Study for the Argument Against Immortality
- Chapter 2: When the Killing Is Done – A Case Study for the Argument Against Immortality
- The Impact of Terror Management Theory
- A Note about Taming the Tiger
- Why Islands?
- Islands and Legacy – Isolated Monuments and Arbiters of Immortality
- Chapter 3: The Island of Dr. Moreau – Playing God on an Island Refuge
- Post Humanism – Manifestations and the Denial of Reverence
- Futile Attempts at Immortality
- Additional Observations of Moreau’s Botched Attempts at Immortality Further Revealed
- What Is Nature? A Definition of Terms
- Chapter 4: The Problematizing of Dominion in the Context of Wayward Immortality Projects
- Dominion from Within and Dominion from Without
- The Significance of Island Utopias
- Dominion Meets Its Match – Island Wars – The Islands Strike Back
- Keeping the Beast at Bay – Reflections on the Human Animal
- Dominion as a Pseudonym for Colonization?
- Fiction as an Alternative/Ersatz Form of Dominion
- Should Mercy Have a Place in the Execution of Dominion over Animals?
- Should a Stop Be Put to Dominion When Human Life Is at Stake?
- Chapter 5: Concluding Remarks
- Works Cited
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication
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on the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de.
Zugl.: Berlin, Freie Univ., Diss., 2024
D 188
ISBN 978-3-631-91674-2 (Print)
E-ISBN 978-3-631-91675-9 (E-PDF)
E-ISBN 978-3-631-91676-6 (E-PUB)
DOI.10.3726/b21735
© 2024 Peter Lang Group AG, Lausanne
Published by Peter Lang GmbH, Berlin, Germany
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About the author
The Author
Michael Paul Reichstein is a graduate of Carleton College (Northfield, MN), where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. He also holds Master’s degrees from The S.I.T. Graduate Institute (Brattleboro, VT), Arcadia University (Glenside, PA), and the Free University of Berlin in Intercultural Management, Education, and English Studies respectively. Additionally, he holds a Ph.D. degree from the Free University of Berlin, specializing in Animal Studies.
About the book
Michael Paul Reichstein
Controlling Animals:
Vain Attempts at Immortality in Three Works of Fiction
Based on the analytical framework of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ernest Becker, Controlling Animals makes use of the notion of the heroic ideal to expose dysfunctional attempts at immortality through the interpretation of three works of fiction. In this work, the author demonstrates to readers the flawed pursuit of attempting to avert death through the subjugation of animals. This pursuit is often orchestrated under the guise of the biblical concept of dominion from the Book of Genesis. In short, readers will gain a deeper understanding of the inextricable bond to the natural world and the fragile and tenuous existence in which humans live. The text also underscores the impending need for humans to make meaningful choices that are useful to the world while maintaining respect and deference to their animal co-inhabitants.
This eBook can be cited
This edition of the eBook can be cited. To enable this we have marked the start and end of a page. In cases where a word straddles a page break, the marker is placed inside the word at exactly the same position as in the physical book. This means that occasionally a word might be bifurcated by this marker.
Contents
Introduction: Consciousness, Immortality and Nature as Human Adversary
Chapter 1: An Ancillary Note about Death as It Relates to Nature
The Island of Dr. Moreau – A Case Study for the Argument Against Immortality
Chapter 2: When the Killing Is Done – A Case Study for the Argument Against Immortality
The Impact of Terror Management Theory
Islands and Legacy – Isolated Monuments and Arbiters of Immortality
Chapter 3: The Island of Dr. Moreau – Playing God on an Island Refuge
Post Humanism – Manifestations and the Denial of Reverence
Futile Attempts at Immortality
Additional Observations of Moreau’s Botched Attempts at Immortality Further Revealed
What Is Nature? A Definition of Terms
Chapter 4: The Problematizing of Dominion in the Context of Wayward Immortality Projects
Dominion from Within and Dominion from Without
The Significance of Island Utopias
Dominion Meets Its Match – Island Wars – The Islands Strike Back
Keeping the Beast at Bay – Reflections on the Human Animal
Details
- Pages
- 158
- Publication Year
- 2024
- ISBN (PDF)
- 9783631916759
- ISBN (ePUB)
- 9783631916766
- ISBN (Hardcover)
- 9783631916742
- DOI
- 10.3726/b21735
- Language
- English
- Publication date
- 2024 (March)
- Keywords
- Animal subjugation Animal appropriation Death aversion Immortality Projects Dominion
- Published
- Berlin, Bruxelles, Chennai, Lausanne, New York, Oxford, 2024. 158 pp.
- Product Safety
- Peter Lang Group AG
