A radical relational agency : Foucault, complexity theory and environmental resistances
The aim of this thesis is to examine a radical relational agency, applied to contemporary environmental resistances, that incorporates both the thought of Michel Foucault and complexity theory. While Foucaultâs thought, following from his argument that power is a relation, implies a relational agency, it does not, however, account for the agency of nonhumans and environments. Because power is a relation and not a possession, it can no longer be viewed as an attribute of individual subjects. Similarly, a relational agency is defined as an aspect of power relations. Complexity theory, on the other hand, acknowledges that humans interact with nonhumans and environments, but does not acknowledge that all relations are relations of power. In addition to Foucaultâs explanation of power relations, complexity theory explicitly describes the processes of self-organization through which individual and diverse agents interact and change can emerge. Thus, a radical relational agency is defined as an aspect of the power relationships between many diverse agents. Change, according to both Foucault and complexity theory, happens nonlinearly. As a result, it often occurs unpredictably. However, change within complex systems
Picard, E. Kezia
B Philosophy (General)
A radical relational agency : Foucault, complexity theory and environmental resistances. The aim of this thesis is to examine a radical relational agency, applied to contemporary environmental resistances, that incorporates both the thought of Michel Foucault and complexity theory. While Foucaultâs thought, following from his argument that power is a relation, implies a relational agency, it does not, however, account for the agency of nonhumans and environments. Because power is a relation and not a possession, it can no longer be viewed as an attribute of individual subjects. Similarly, a relational agency is defined as an aspect of power relations. Complexity theory, on the other hand, acknowledges that humans interact with nonhumans and environments, but does not acknowledge that all relations are relations of power. In addition to Foucaultâs explanation of power relations, complexity theory explicitly describes the processes of self-organization through which individual and diverse agents interact and change can emerge. Thus, a radical relational agency is defined as an aspect of the power relationships between many diverse agents. Change, according to both Foucault and complexity theory, happens nonlinearly. As a result, it often occurs unpredictably. However, change within complex systems
radical relational agency foucault complexity theory environmental resistance aim_examine radical relational agency apply contemporary environmental resistance incorporates think michel_foucault complexity theory foucault think follow argument power_relation imply relational agency however account agency environment power_relation possession long view attribute individual subject similarly relational agency define aspect power_relation complexity theory hand acknowledges human interact environment acknowledge relation relation power addition foucault explanation power_relation complexity theory explicitly describe process self organization individual diverse agent interact change emerge thus radical relational agency define aspect power relationship many_diverse agent change accord foucault complexity theory happen often occur however change within complex_system