Disrupting the epistemic empire is necessary for a decolonial ecology
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Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Abstract
Guedes et al.1 argue that eponyms in biological nomenclature represent epistemic injustices that perpetuate the negative legacies of imperialism and colonialism in the fields of taxonomy, ecology and conservation science. We believe that their argument and proposal underscore the ongoing discussion on the need to decolonize ecology and conservation science, as Western science and expertise continue to be privileged over others2,3,4,5. This privilege is built on an epistemological and ontological failure to recognize “the different ways through which diverse people across the human globe make sense and provide meaning to their existence”6. Guedes and colleagues’ argument suggests that eponyms are part of the epistemic empire, which is bound to be biased against non-Western knowledge systems.
Description
Abstract. Full text available at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-023-02105-w
Keywords
Eponyms, Biological nomenclature, Epistemic injustices, Imperialism, Colonialism, Taxonomy, Ecology, Conservation science, Decolonization, Western science, Epistemological privilege, Ontological privilege, Non-Western knowledge systems, Epistemic empire.
Citation
Mabele, M. B., Kiwango, W. A., & Mwanyoka, I. (2023). Disrupting the epistemic empire is necessary for a decolonial ecology. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 7(8), 1163-1163.