#264 | Becoming Animal: The Whole Is Less Than The Sum Of Its Parts w/ Julian Langer

Intro: 9:45

In this episode, I speak with eco-radical philosopher, writer, and poet Julian Langer. 

We begin this discussion by addressing Julian's recent essay ‘The Whole is Less than the Sum of its Parts,’ in which he redefines what we commonly understand "collectivism" and "individualism" to be:

"If collectivism is correct, and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, then it doesn’t matter if 10% of a coral reef is bleached, or 20%, or 90%, because you have this transcendental greater than, which remains. Likewise, the death of 1 polar bear doesn’t matter, because individuals are inconsequential, and neither does the extinction of 1 species, because you still have this larger whole of earth that matters more, and likewise it doesn’t matter if 200 individual species comprised of statistically irrelevant individuals die due to ecocide, because the transcendental whole remains." (https://bit.ly/3h0ySNR)

Also, we address themes addressed in some of his other writings, including his thoughts on solitude in ‘A Thought On Solitude,’ as well as his recent reviews of the journal ‘Against Green Reactionaries’ and my new book ‘We Live in the Orbit of Beings Greater Than Us.’

Julian Langer is the author of ‘Feral Consciousness: Deconstruction of the Modern Myth and Return to the Woods,’ ‘Feral Iconoclasm: Anarchy as Rising and Dying,’ and ‘Mesodma.’ Julian defines his himself as an eco-anarchist, guerrilla ontologist philosopher, musician, and activist. Julian exists and resides on the land of Briton.

Episode Notes:

- Learn more about Julian and read his work: https://ecorevoltblog.wordpress.com

- Read the essays and reviews discussed in this episode: https://bit.ly/3h0ySNR / https://bit.ly/3g1fBdR / https://bit.ly/2Y65Jcn / https://bit.ly/3at9FZE

- Learn more about and purchase his books ‘Feral Consciousness,’ ‘Feral Iconoclasm,’ and ‘Mesodma’: https://ecorevoltblog.wordpress.com/books

- The songs featured in this episode are “Shoouss Lullaby,” “The Endless,” and “Piano Days” by Teebs from the album E s t a r a: https://youtu.be/WWw1ul3n2JI / https://youtu.be/Y9WCYnju1SQ / https://youtu.be/faArTLXUfl4

#207 | Guerrilla Ontology: The Cancer Of Civilization & An Ineffable Visceral Space w/ Julian Langer

Intro: 7:34

In this episode, I speak with eco-radical and guerrilla ontologist philosopher and writer Julian Langer. In this wide-ranging discussion, we discuss the middle-spaces of social engagement with technology and industrial infrastructure within an eco-pessimist perspective, Julian’s encounters with the climate activist group Extinction Rebellion and the mainstreaming of climate/environmental activism, the “ineffable visceral space” of his encounter with cancer and modern medicine, and maximizing individual freedom within the varying “intensities of capture” of civilized life.

This discussion with Julian covers a great deal of territory, meandering as conversations often do, with general (and quite specific) reflections on the nature of resistance and liberation within an eco-pessimist perspective — nestled within Julian’s ontological anarchist approach to philosophy, writing, and activism. How can a more pessimistic view of life enable us to more fully engage with the reality we find ourselves in — one of ecological collapse, political oppression, runaway climate change, and mass extinction? In connecting with wild nature — our wild nature — we can maximize our freedom within the various “intensities of capture” of civilization, as Julian defines it in this discussion. Along with these general reflections, Julian describes his experience with cancer, medical treatment, technology, and death — as explored in his moving essay ‘Cancer, Technology, and an Ineffable Visceral Space’: “Everyone was a cancer patient and everyone was--like all those people who go to cancer hospitals, have the best care in the entire fucking world and don’t make it--going to die. This was an all-consuming thought. And really, what was the point of it all? Why had I bothered to go through all that, if it was just going to be a less intense version of that for the rest of my time alive?” (http://bit.ly/2zd7MPg) We touch on all these themes and more in this episode.

Julian Langer is the author of two books: ‘Feral Consciousness: Deconstruction of the Modern Myth and Return to the Woods’ and ‘Feral Iconoclasm.’ Julian defines his himself as an eco-anarchist, guerrilla ontologist philosopher, musician, and activist. Julian exists and resides on the land of Briton.

Episode Notes:

- Learn more about Julian and his work: https://ecorevoltblog.wordpress.com

- Read ‘Cancer, Technology, and an Ineffable Visceral Space’: http://bit.ly/2zd7MPg

- Read Julian’s response to John Jacobi: http://bit.ly/2KV6VrQ

- Julian’s most recent poetry: https://nightforestpoetry.wordpress.com

- The songs featured in this episode are “Number 13 (Bellz)” and “Snowsuit (Grab My Mask)” by Samiyam from the album “I Got Shit To Do.”