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The Resourcification of Waste: A Critique of Heroic Efficacy

Corvellec, Hervé LU orcid (2024) p.1-1
Abstract
This chapter questions the rallying cry that ‘waste is a resource’ through the lens of François Jullien’s critique of efficacy. Focusing on the waste hierarchy, the lean movement, and the circular economy, it shows that viewing waste as a resource privileges a heroic mode of action based on ideals, means and ends, and intended outcomes. Contrasting ancient Greek and Chinese philosophies, Jullien contrasts this proactive approach, which defines efficacy as the ability to solve problems and achieve goals, with an anti-heroic focus on immanence, situational circumstances, and transformations. This contrast leads to a critique of the overconfidence currently placed in heroic efficacy. Heroic efficacy appears as a conservative posture that... (More)
This chapter questions the rallying cry that ‘waste is a resource’ through the lens of François Jullien’s critique of efficacy. Focusing on the waste hierarchy, the lean movement, and the circular economy, it shows that viewing waste as a resource privileges a heroic mode of action based on ideals, means and ends, and intended outcomes. Contrasting ancient Greek and Chinese philosophies, Jullien contrasts this proactive approach, which defines efficacy as the ability to solve problems and achieve goals, with an anti-heroic focus on immanence, situational circumstances, and transformations. This contrast leads to a critique of the overconfidence currently placed in heroic efficacy. Heroic efficacy appears as a conservative posture that supports the dominant social order and deflects fitting social critique. But the Anthropocene epitomizes the need to re-evaluate current confidence in heroic efficacy and to seek non-heroic approaches. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
submitted
subject
keywords
Waste, Heroism, Efficacy, François Jullien, Anthropocene
host publication
Waste as a Critique
editor
Corvellec, Hervé
pages
19 pages
publisher
Oxford University Press
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
In preparation for OUP.
id
f597de53-a2a0-4784-80b2-4606cbe64d5d
date added to LUP
2024-01-25 21:09:09
date last changed
2024-01-26 12:48:46
@inbook{f597de53-a2a0-4784-80b2-4606cbe64d5d,
  abstract     = {{This chapter questions the rallying cry that ‘waste is a resource’ through the lens of François Jullien’s critique of efficacy. Focusing on the waste hierarchy, the lean movement, and the circular economy, it shows that viewing waste as a resource privileges a heroic mode of action based on ideals, means and ends, and intended outcomes. Contrasting ancient Greek and Chinese philosophies, Jullien contrasts this proactive approach, which defines efficacy as the ability to solve problems and achieve goals, with an anti-heroic focus on immanence, situational circumstances, and transformations. This contrast leads to a critique of the overconfidence currently placed in heroic efficacy. Heroic efficacy appears as a conservative posture that supports the dominant social order and deflects fitting social critique. But the Anthropocene epitomizes the need to re-evaluate current confidence in heroic efficacy and to seek non-heroic approaches.}},
  author       = {{Corvellec, Hervé}},
  booktitle    = {{Waste as a Critique}},
  editor       = {{Corvellec, Hervé}},
  keywords     = {{Waste; Heroism; Efficacy; François Jullien; Anthropocene}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  pages        = {{1--1}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  title        = {{The Resourcification of Waste: A Critique of Heroic Efficacy}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}