This is one of the most interesting emerging theories that I have learned about over the past three years.
The basic idea is that everything is connected and everything is alive (has agency). I love that!
The foundational mother of the theory is Karen Barad, an American feminist scholar and a physicist (of course!). Barad coined the terms âagential realismâ and âintra-actionâ, which are somewhat mind bending, but certainly new. It challenges separation of humanity from the rest of the world and gives us hope for recovery and better future. It is an optimistic theory, where humans are humble. Guess what? I like that too!
Agential realism is a theory proposed by Karen Barad, in which the universe comprises phenomena which are “the ontological inseparability of intra-acting agencies”. Intra-action, a neologism introduced by Barad, signals an important challenge to individualist metaphysics.
In the next few posts I will share some of my thoughts on this theory and how it applied to working and being with very young children. Meanwhile, have a look at the main concepts of posthumanism.
- Multi-agency: This concept recognizes the agency and subjectivity of all participants in the learning process, including children, teachers, and the environment.
- Materiality: This concept highlights the importance of the material and physical aspects of the learning environment and their impact on children’s learning and development.
- Embodied learning: This concept emphasizes the role of the body and physical movement in learning and highlights the importance of embodied experiences in early childhood education.
- Eco-justice: This concept recognizes the importance of considering environmental issues and promoting sustainability in early childhood education.
Have you heard of posthumanism before? How do you think it applies to us, as educators?
