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The Animal at Unease with Itself

Death Anxiety and the Animal-Human Boundary in Genesis 2-3

Isaac M. Alderman

Quoting Derrida, in The Animal at Unease with Itself: Death Anxiety and the Animal-Human Boundary in Genesis 2–3 Isaac M. Alderman draws attention to the fact that humans are the only animals who are disturbed by nakedness. This unease with regard to our own bodies is an important aspect of the study of disgust and death anxiety. Alderman seeks to apply terror management theorists’ focus on death anxiety to biblical studies and to utilize the concept of animal reminder disgust‒‒the visceral reaction to reminders of our animality‒‒to better understand the opening chapters of Genesis, dealing particularly with themes of mortality, the human body, and the animal-human boundary in those chapters. After describing relevant aspects of cognitive science, terror management theory, and animal reminder disgust, Alderman demonstrates, using Genesis 2‒3 (and the role of clothing as a marker of the animal-human boundary there) as a case study, that an interdisciplinary approach that draws on cognitive science can illumine the biblical text in important ways.

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Lexington Books / Fortress Academic
Pages: 218 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9¼
978-1-9787-0291-2 • Hardback • August 2020 • $117.00 • (£90.00)
978-1-9787-0292-9 • eBook • August 2020 • $45.00 • (£35.00)
Subjects: Religion / Biblical Criticism & Interpretation / Old Testament, Philosophy / General, Religion / Religion & Science, Science / Cognitive Science

Isaac M. Alderman (PhD, The Catholic University of America) is adjunct faculty at Baruch College. He has published articles and presented at conferences on various biblical passages in the context of cognitive science, pedagogy, and reception theory.

Chapter 1: The Cognitive Turn

Chapter 2: The Hero who Faces Death

Chapter 3: Embodiment and Meaning

Chapter 4: The Bible and Death

Chapter 5: I Am Not an Animal

Chapter 6: The Animal Turn

Chapter 7: Humans, Animals, and Clothing

Chapter 8: Humans, Animals, and Clothing in Genesis 2-3

Chapter 9: Garments of Skins

Chapter 10: Conclusion

In this work, Isaac Alderman brings together animal studies and cognitive research, specifically terror management theory. He has produced a thought-provoking study of Genesis 2–3, one that also becomes a wider meditation on the human condition.


— The Catholic Biblical Quarterly


This timely monograph brings biblical studies into a fruitful dialogue with cognitive research and critical animal studies, and as such will be a significant aid to scholars working on the human condition and its expression in the Bible.


— Journal for the Study of the Old Testament


The Animal at Unease with Itself

Death Anxiety and the Animal-Human Boundary in Genesis 2-3

Cover Image
Hardback
eBook
Summary
Summary
  • Quoting Derrida, in The Animal at Unease with Itself: Death Anxiety and the Animal-Human Boundary in Genesis 2–3 Isaac M. Alderman draws attention to the fact that humans are the only animals who are disturbed by nakedness. This unease with regard to our own bodies is an important aspect of the study of disgust and death anxiety. Alderman seeks to apply terror management theorists’ focus on death anxiety to biblical studies and to utilize the concept of animal reminder disgust‒‒the visceral reaction to reminders of our animality‒‒to better understand the opening chapters of Genesis, dealing particularly with themes of mortality, the human body, and the animal-human boundary in those chapters. After describing relevant aspects of cognitive science, terror management theory, and animal reminder disgust, Alderman demonstrates, using Genesis 2‒3 (and the role of clothing as a marker of the animal-human boundary there) as a case study, that an interdisciplinary approach that draws on cognitive science can illumine the biblical text in important ways.

Details
Details
  • Lexington Books / Fortress Academic
    Pages: 218 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9¼
    978-1-9787-0291-2 • Hardback • August 2020 • $117.00 • (£90.00)
    978-1-9787-0292-9 • eBook • August 2020 • $45.00 • (£35.00)
    Subjects: Religion / Biblical Criticism & Interpretation / Old Testament, Philosophy / General, Religion / Religion & Science, Science / Cognitive Science
Author
Author
  • Isaac M. Alderman (PhD, The Catholic University of America) is adjunct faculty at Baruch College. He has published articles and presented at conferences on various biblical passages in the context of cognitive science, pedagogy, and reception theory.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Chapter 1: The Cognitive Turn

    Chapter 2: The Hero who Faces Death

    Chapter 3: Embodiment and Meaning

    Chapter 4: The Bible and Death

    Chapter 5: I Am Not an Animal

    Chapter 6: The Animal Turn

    Chapter 7: Humans, Animals, and Clothing

    Chapter 8: Humans, Animals, and Clothing in Genesis 2-3

    Chapter 9: Garments of Skins

    Chapter 10: Conclusion
Reviews
Reviews
  • In this work, Isaac Alderman brings together animal studies and cognitive research, specifically terror management theory. He has produced a thought-provoking study of Genesis 2–3, one that also becomes a wider meditation on the human condition.


    — The Catholic Biblical Quarterly


    This timely monograph brings biblical studies into a fruitful dialogue with cognitive research and critical animal studies, and as such will be a significant aid to scholars working on the human condition and its expression in the Bible.


    — Journal for the Study of the Old Testament


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