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The Mark of the Beast Mark of the Beast historically and critically examines the dire affects of the process of animalization on both humans and animals. Roberts provides a general account of the theoretical division between humans and animals begun largely in the work of Aristotle and continued in that of Descartes and Kant. Following the philosophical provenance of the idea of “animality,” Roberts explores the practical and "scientific" uses of this idea, focusing largely on what Stephen J. Gould terms the "biodeterministic tradition" by evaluating the primarily 19th century theories of atavism, craniology, recapitulation, and so on, while also exploring the use of medical and psychological techniques of animalization. The second part of the work deals with the actual use of these techniques on large segments of the population focusing on American slavery and the European Holocaust. Roberts explains the role of animalization in the repression of African slaves and the rationalizations for their servitude and abuse and the role of animalization in the Holocaust that reduced Jews, Gypsies, Blacks, Gays, Catholics, and others not only to animal status but to the sub-animal condition of micro-bacteria and detested vermin. The final part of the book deals with the modern "revival" of traditional animalizing techniques, but one that is far less overt than those proposed in earlier periods. Roberts investigates the extensive imagery of animal–human comparison in modern media, particularly in film. Further, there is an attempt to trace the racist techniques, so obvious in 19th century biodeterminism, to modern forms of racism couched in more socially acceptable terms: academic studies, certain types of ethology, journalism, and social and political criticism. Roberts makes suggestions for resistance and change centering on the idea of a continuum of species. Employing the work of animal rights activists, ethologists, critical theorists, and native tribal wisdom, Roberts proposes that the whole process of animalization can be undone by embracing the similarities and continuities between species rather than maintaining those differences so decidedly stressed by the animalizer. About the author: Mark S. Roberts is a member of the Department of Philosophy at Suffolk County Community College in New York. He has written numerous works in areas of contemporary French thought, psychology, aesthetics, philosophy of medicine, and media studies. ISBN: 978-1-55753-474-3
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