In his book, Vratislav Moudr explores the relationship between nature and culture, building on Josef Šmajs’s evolutionary ontology, which emphasizes their dissonant nature. Moudr extends this perspective by introducing the concept of hybridity, which provides a better understanding of structures that emerge at the intersection of these two realms.
Moudr focuses not only on genetic, psychic, and ecosystemic hybrids but also on the role of humans as unique hybrids. For him, humans are not merely hybrids; through the cultural transformation of the human psyche by culture – which penetrates its full breadth and depth – he conceives of humans as cyborgs. The human personality is understood as a socio-cultural product through which culture disciplines individuals and directs their actions in line with its systemic interests to persist over time and grow.
The book offers not only a thoughtful proposal for revising evolutionary ontology but also a response to certain challenges associated with social constructionism. The author demonstrates that while constructionism often dissolves the boundaries between nature and culture, the approach of evolutionary ontology emphasizes their dissonance. It thereby enables the grasp of hybrid entities, including cyborgs, as real products of the interaction between these two orders.
In line with the call of evolutionary ontology, the book advocates for a fundamental shift toward a biophilic culture that respects both the conflicting relationship between culture and nature and the extraordinary position of hybrids and humans within this relationship. Thus, it contributes to the debate on sustainability and the responsibility for future generations of humans.
