Timothy Morton: la Dark Ecology come progetto utopico = Timothy Morton: Dark Ecology as a Utopian Project

Abstract

In the age of global warming, reality takes on dystopian contours with apocalyptic overtones. This state of affairs corresponds to a profound paralysis of action, causing every utopian attempt to degenerate into a vulgar and distorted sense of impossibility. The price to pay for such an attitude is a drift between two extremes: the irresoluteness of cynicism and the ascetic rigor grounded in individual guilt. Resonating against these approaches, typical of traditional environmentalism, is the original ecological proposal of British philosopher Timothy Morton: a utopian conception in the highest sense of the term, that is, in its transformative potential with respect to the status quo. The prevailing cynicism and austerity regime of classical environmental ethics are overturned in a dark ecology, scandalously grounded in enjoyment. Morton's ecology is also "dark" because it recognizes life as undeath, in its dazzling beauty and uniqueness.