“Blond flowing hair”, “tumid lips,” “rigid posture”, and “choleric temperament” : Universal aspirations and racial asymmetries in Linnaeus' definition of Homo sapiens
(2016) In European Conceptual History Series p.56-84- Abstract
- The starting point of my analysis will be Reinhard Koselleck’s hypothesis of historical asymmetrical counterconcepts. His belief in a conceptual and ideological global dualism (Hellene/Barbarian, Christian/Heathen, Superman/Subhuman), in which a collective Self is contrasted to a generic Other of negation, will be tested on Linnaeus’ 18th-century classifications of human varieties (races). Though proposed as a neutral scientific map of human ethnic groups, the conceptual asymmetries were nestled within Linnaeus quadripartite and occasionally quinquepartite division of the world. The asymmetric character of these taxonomies, complicating Koselleck's essentially dichotomous vision of conceptual asymmetry, will be explored through their... (More)
- The starting point of my analysis will be Reinhard Koselleck’s hypothesis of historical asymmetrical counterconcepts. His belief in a conceptual and ideological global dualism (Hellene/Barbarian, Christian/Heathen, Superman/Subhuman), in which a collective Self is contrasted to a generic Other of negation, will be tested on Linnaeus’ 18th-century classifications of human varieties (races). Though proposed as a neutral scientific map of human ethnic groups, the conceptual asymmetries were nestled within Linnaeus quadripartite and occasionally quinquepartite division of the world. The asymmetric character of these taxonomies, complicating Koselleck's essentially dichotomous vision of conceptual asymmetry, will be explored through their connotations of inclusion and exclusion, immateriality/invisibility vs materiality/visibility, civilization, authenticity/originality/innocence and, 'degeneration'. The binary scheme of asymmetrical concepts is further qualified by Linnaeus' empirical and morphological findings that thwart easy clear-cut distinctions, as well as by his reliance on ancient Humoralism with its stress on symmetry, equality and balance of four nodes (rather than two), and, finally, Linnaeus' self-referential characterization of the human species (nosce te ipsum - know thyself) which does not preclude, however, a subtle ambivalence regarding European cultural sophistication. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/4938819
- author
- Libell, Monica LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2016-08
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- in press
- subject
- keywords
- Linnaeus, history of race, Reinhart Koselleck, Begriffsgeschichte
- host publication
- Hellenes and Barbarians : Asymmetrical Concepts in European Discourse - Asymmetrical Concepts in European Discourse
- series title
- European Conceptual History Series
- editor
- Potoutenko, Kirill
- pages
- 29 pages
- publisher
- Berghahn Books
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85139513290
- ISBN
- 9781800736801
- 978-1-80073-679-5
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 885e4bf2-c08d-45ee-b5a1-d18108297bda (old id 4938819)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-04 13:15:53
- date last changed
- 2024-04-04 09:02:49
@inbook{885e4bf2-c08d-45ee-b5a1-d18108297bda,
abstract = {{The starting point of my analysis will be Reinhard Koselleck’s hypothesis of historical asymmetrical counterconcepts. His belief in a conceptual and ideological global dualism (Hellene/Barbarian, Christian/Heathen, Superman/Subhuman), in which a collective Self is contrasted to a generic Other of negation, will be tested on Linnaeus’ 18th-century classifications of human varieties (races). Though proposed as a neutral scientific map of human ethnic groups, the conceptual asymmetries were nestled within Linnaeus quadripartite and occasionally quinquepartite division of the world. The asymmetric character of these taxonomies, complicating Koselleck's essentially dichotomous vision of conceptual asymmetry, will be explored through their connotations of inclusion and exclusion, immateriality/invisibility vs materiality/visibility, civilization, authenticity/originality/innocence and, 'degeneration'. The binary scheme of asymmetrical concepts is further qualified by Linnaeus' empirical and morphological findings that thwart easy clear-cut distinctions, as well as by his reliance on ancient Humoralism with its stress on symmetry, equality and balance of four nodes (rather than two), and, finally, Linnaeus' self-referential characterization of the human species (nosce te ipsum - know thyself) which does not preclude, however, a subtle ambivalence regarding European cultural sophistication.}},
author = {{Libell, Monica}},
booktitle = {{Hellenes and Barbarians : Asymmetrical Concepts in European Discourse}},
editor = {{Potoutenko, Kirill}},
isbn = {{9781800736801}},
keywords = {{Linnaeus; history of race; Reinhart Koselleck; Begriffsgeschichte}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{56--84}},
publisher = {{Berghahn Books}},
series = {{European Conceptual History Series}},
title = {{“Blond flowing hair”, “tumid lips,” “rigid posture”, and “choleric temperament” : Universal aspirations and racial asymmetries in Linnaeus' definition of Homo sapiens}},
year = {{2016}},
}