Jarrett Zigon, a social theorist and professor at the University of Virginia, presents a groundbreaking theory of relational ethics in his new book. He discusses how ethical principles need reevaluation in today's post-truth world, where algorithms and climate crises complicate moral decisions. Zigon emphasizes the importance of 'the between'—the connections that shape relationships—not just among humans but with non-humans too. His reflections on literature and experiences, alongside navigating societal moral crises, urge us to rethink engagement, truth, and justice in an increasingly interconnected world.
01:24:40
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Dostoevsky's Influence
Jarrett Zigon's interest in ethics started with reading Dostoevsky.
Reading "Crime and Punishment" was a life-changing experience.
insights INSIGHT
Choosing Anthropology
Jarrett Zigon chose anthropology over philosophy to study ethics in real-world settings.
He was encouraged by Talal Asad to pursue the anthropology of ethics, a then-nascent field.
insights INSIGHT
Fieldwork and Ethics
Jarrett Zigon's fieldwork approach involves taking his interlocutors' ethical views as seriously as philosophical texts.
He compares his interlocutor's description of ethical dilemmas to Heidegger's hammer.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Jarrett Zigon's "How Is It Between Us?" presents a novel theory of relational ethics, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all existents. The book explores contemporary ethical challenges, including the post-truth era, algorithmic control, and climate change. Zigon uses anthropology and phenomenological hermeneutics to develop a framework for understanding ethical interactions beyond human relationships. The concept of 'attunement' is central, highlighting the importance of engaged relationality in navigating complex moral landscapes. The book offers a robust and systematic ethical theory applicable to various contemporary problems.
How Is It Between Us?: Relational Ethics and Care for the World (HAU Books, 2023) offers a new theory of relational ethics that tackles contemporary issues. In How Is It Between Us?, Jarrett Zigon puts anthropology and phenomenological hermeneutics in conversation to develop a new theory of relational ethics. This relational ethics takes place in the between, the interaction not just between people, but all existents. Importantly, this theory is utilized as a framework for considering some of today’s most pressing ethical concerns - for example, living in a condition of post-truth and worlds increasingly driven by algorithms and data extraction, various and competing calls for justice, and the ethical demands of the climate crisis. Written by one of the preeminent contributors to the anthropology of ethics, this is a ground-breaking book within that literature, developing a robust and systematic ethical theory to think through contemporary ethical problems.
Jarrett Zigon is a social theorist, philosopher and anthropologist at the University of Virginia, where he is the William & Linda Porterfield Chair in Bioethics and Professor of Anthropology. From 2018 to 2020, he was the founding director of the Center for Data Ethics and Justice at the University of Virginia.
Yadong Li is a PhD student in anthropology at Tulane University. His research interests lie at the intersection of economic anthropology, medical anthropology, hope studies, and the anthropology of borders and frontiers. More details about his scholarship and research interests can be found here.
New Books in Animal Studies