Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026
08:01
Virtual Hand with Ambiguous Movement between the Self and Other Origin: Sense of Ownership and 'Other-Produced' Agency
Published on: October 28, 2020
Rethinking biopower: posthumanism, bare life, and emancipatory work
1College of Nursing, University of Utah, UT, USA. Kristin.cloyes@nurs.utah.edu
ANS. Advances in Nursing Science
|August 10, 2010
Summary
This article explores Giorgio Agamben's biopower theory in nursing research. It examines how this theory reveals historical marginalization and violence, posing challenges for emancipatory nursing scholarship.
Area of Science:
- Political Philosophy
- Nursing Scholarship
- Social Theory
Background:
- Giorgio Agamben's theory of biopower is increasingly relevant to critical analyses in social sciences.
- Humanist discourse has historically marginalized groups by defining them as "bare life."
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the application of Giorgio Agamben's biopower theory within nursing research and scholarship.
- To critically examine the historical roots of marginalization and violence through the lens of biopower.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of Giorgio Agamben's theory of biopower.
- Application of biopower theory to frame personal nursing research.
- Discussion of challenges in using biopower theory for emancipatory work.
Main Results:
- Biopower, as conceptualized by Agamben, is not a modern phenomenon but has deep historical roots.
- Humanist discourse has historically contributed to marginalization and violence by designating certain populations as "bare life."
Conclusions:
- Agamben's biopower theory offers a valuable framework for critiquing historical and ongoing marginalization in nursing.
- Applying biopower theory in nursing research presents challenges, particularly in pursuing emancipatory goals.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Ethics and Bioethics
Ethics is a philosophical study of moral actions. Ethics attempts to determine what is valuable for individuals and society. It examines the rational justification of moral judgments and analyzes what is morally just, fair, and right. Bioethics is a sub-discipline of applied ethics that analyzes the philosophical, social, and legal issues in life sciences and medicine. Ethical theories serve as a foundation for decision-making and represent the viewpoints from which people seek direction. They...
01:24Biodiversity and Human Values
Human civilization relies on biodiversity in many ways. Sudden changes in species biodiversity result in environmental changes that can modify weather patterns and therefore human civilizations.
01:26Requirements for Human Life
The Earth and its atmosphere have provided humans with air, water, and food, but these are not the only requirements for survival. Humans also require a specific range of temperature and pressure that the Earth and its atmosphere provides.
Oxygen
Atmospheric air is only about 20 percent oxygen, but that oxygen is a key component of the chemical reactions that keep the body alive, including the reactions that produce ATP. Brain cells are susceptible to a lack of oxygen because they require a...
Oxygen
Atmospheric air is only about 20 percent oxygen, but that oxygen is a key component of the chemical reactions that keep the body alive, including the reactions that produce ATP. Brain cells are susceptible to a lack of oxygen because they require a...
01:30Social Foundations of Self IV: Self in Digital Communication
Since the early 2000s, computer-mediated communication (CMC) has grown rapidly, playing a crucial role in self-development. A key distinction between CMC and real-life interactions is the lack of a physically present partner. This absence makes non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, body language, and paralinguistic signals unavailable in CMC platforms like email, instant messaging, or social media. The lack of these cues can create ambiguity and complicate how feedback is interpreted.The...
02:57The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...
01:23Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective
In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...