What if hope is more than a human concern?
Shared by TONYA ROONEY
What if hope is more than a human concern? In a walk along a mountain creek we draw inspiration from Instone (2015), attuning to the rocks, trees, insects, mosses and driftwood that tumble together through the narrow valley. As noted in an earlier microblog shared by Mindy, Veronica and Affrica, we are struck by the ‘uncontainable exuberance of the inhuman’ in the chaotic creek life.
The vitality of this more-than-human assemblage conveys a sense of hopeful anticipation that far exceeds anything we humans might hope for in our possible futures.
In responding to anthropogenic climate change, many have noted that we need to think beyond the human exceptionalism in conceits such as progress, mastery and control. Perhaps it is time to also question the limits of human-centred ambitions such as hope. What might be possible if we re-imagine hope as a generative more-than-human force? What futures emerge if we recognise our fleeting presence as already entwined with the hopeful ongoingness of more-than-human worlds?
References
Instone, L. (2015) Walking as Respectful Wayfinding in an Uncertain Age. In Manifesto for Living in the Anthropocene, eds. Gibson. K, Rose, D.B. and Fincher, R, 133–138. New York: Punctum Books.
