Nature, Gender and Technology: The Ontological Foundations of Shiva's Ecofeminist Philosophy. Issue 2 (3rd May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Swer, Gregory Morgan
• Is Part Of: Comparative and continental philosophy. Volume 12:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 118
• Page End: 131
• Publication Date: 2020-05-03
• Subjects: Vandana Shiva -- ontology -- Prakriti -- technology -- ecofeminism -- reductionism; Philosophy, Comparative -- Periodicals; Philosophy, European -- Periodicals; Art -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; Literature -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; 105
• DOI: 10.1080/17570638.2020.1780685
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-0638

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper addresses the generally neglected topic of Vandana Shiva's ontology. It is argued that there is a significant ontological component to Shiva's ecofeminist philosophy and that this ontology underpins her ecological and feminist views. Shiva's ontology provides a standpoint from which she can critique dichotomous ontologies of domination and oppression, and from which she can identify life-sustaining modes of existence. It is argued that this ontology is implicit in most of her works and is best grasped through the analysis of her critique of Western scientific metaphysics. It is further argued that this implied ontology is a continuation of the Hindu-ecofeminist ontology of Prakriti explicitly set forth in Shiva's Staying Alive (1989). Both forms of Shiva's ontology, the explicit and the implicit, will be reconstructed and their points of continuity detailed.