1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910255216103321

Autore

Tratnik Polona

Titolo

Conquest of Body : Biopower with Biotechnology / / by Polona Tratnik

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2017

ISBN

3-319-57324-1

Edizione

[1st ed. 2017.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (XVIII, 100 p.)

Collana

SpringerBriefs in Philosophy, , 2211-4556

Disciplina

128.6

Soggetti

Science - Philosophy

Aesthetics

Knowledge, Theory of

Social sciences

Humanities

Philosophy of Science

Epistemology

Humanities and Social Sciences

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- Mapping, Knowing, Mastering -- Body Prints and Identification -- Solution of Life -- Biopower of Biotechnology -- Bibliography -- Index.

Sommario/riassunto

This book reflects on the phenomenon of biotechnology and how it affects the body and discusses a number of related issues, including visualization, mediation, and epistemology. The author offers a compelling thesis, arguing that the exploration of the human body has one ultimate aim: to gain knowledge of it and to conquer it. Exploration of body has an intrinsic link to power, since knowledge is constitutive for the power over the body. Ultimately the conquest of body means the power to intervene into life processes. The book breaks new ground with its study of body visualizations, from the Renaissance drawings to the medical imaging. In particular, it investigates their complex mediality. It also considers the extension and the reach of biopower that is now possible thanks to a wide range of engineering applications. The author originally questions the research approach by rethinking the



relationship between mental and sensual examination. She takes into consideration the epistemological problem of the two modes of exploration: obtaining knowledge from empirical exploration and projecting that knowledge to the object of exploration.