SU College of Law’s Cooney Colloquium begins spring series on inhuman subjects

Syracuse University will host distinguished lecturers throughout the month of April for discussions on “Inhuman Subjects: Critiquing the Limits of Humanism, Human Rights, and the Humanities” as part of SU College of Law‘s Angela S. Cooney Colloquium on Law and Humanities. The series features prominent scholars at the forefront of their academic fields.

All events will be wheelchair accessible and will include sign language interpretation.

The first speaker is Tucker Culbertson, SU assistant professor of law, who is also organizing the colloquium. He will give the presentation “On Inhuman Subjects” on Monday, April 5, at 4:30 p.m. in the Heritage Alumni Lounge in E.I. White Hall.

“As an ideology, humanism both justifies and obscures systems of consumption and exploitation which super-ordinate the human species within our biosphere,” says Culbertson. “By enfranchising the human being as their central subject, human rights and the humanities may fail to recognize, and even reinforce, injustice against the inhuman world. Yet, we depend entirely upon inhuman beings for our nutrition, hydration and respiration. Thus, is the individual human being an appropriate starting point for thinking about law, education or justice?”

The remaining lectures include:

• Anthony J. Nocella II, co-founder of the Institute for Critical Animal Studies and adjunct professor of criminology at the SUNY College at Cortland, speaking on “Critical Animal & Disability Studies: Intersections & Inclusions,” on Tuesday, April 13, at 11:30 a.m. in Room 304 of the Tolley Humanities Building;
• Angela Harris, professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, and visiting professor of law and Baldy Center Distinguished Scholar at the University at Buffalo, speaking on “Racism, Humanism, & Antisubordination Jurisprudence,” on Friday, April 23, at 11:30 a.m. in Room 304 of the Tolley Humanities Building; and
• Cary Wolfe, professor of English at Rice University, speaking on “What is Posthumanism?” on Thursday, April 29, at 4:30 p.m. in the Heritage Alumni Lounge in E.I. White Hall.

Colloquium speakers reflect the College of Law’s dedication to furthering interdisciplinary research and fostering communication both within the legal academy and across disciplines.