Myśl środowiskowa i nowe materializmy. Krytyki
Environmental Thought and New Materialisms. Critiques

Summary/Abstract: The article presents a critical analysis of new materialisms as a foundation for environmental thought, with a particular focus on eco-Marxist perspectives. In recent years, new materialist concepts have dominated ecocriticism and the environmental humanities, influencing social sciences, art, and literature. The author critically examines the utility of this philosophy as a basis for environmental thinking, interrogating its ontological, ethical, and political assumptions. The discussion addresses controversies surrounding the agency of matter, the rejection of dualisms and anthropocentrism, and highlights internal contradictions as well as their potential ethical and political consequences. By contrasting new materialisms with Marxist critical traditions, the article emphasizes the significance of historical and social context in analyzing ecological crises. It identifies limitations in the monistic approach of new materialisms and advocates for a more critical, dialectical engagement with the nature-culture relationship. The author points to elements within new materialist philosophy that may undermine its capacity to address ecological challenges. Additionally, the article critiques new materialisms’ tendency to prioritize affirmation over critique, which risks the fetishization of matter and the neglect of crucial social, political, and historical dimensions. Critics argue that while new materialisms acknowledge non-human agency, they may inadvertently obscure human accountability for the ecological crisis. The article concludes that effectively addressing these issues requires a critical analysis of human-nature relations and engagement with the material conditions underpinning the climate crisis.

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