Ethics and Autonomy in Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Word for World is Forest

Ryder, Mike (2024) Ethics and Autonomy in Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Word for World is Forest. Extrapolation, 65 (3). pp. 287-302. ISSN 0014-5483

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Abstract

Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Word for World Is Forest (1972) offers a sustained critique of imperialist doctrine and the American war in Vietnam. It also raises important questions about soldierly autonomy and personal responsibility in action. Drawing on the work of philosopher Jacques Derrida, this paper examines modern-day interpretations of autonomy in a military setting, including the emerging field of drone theory. Given that the novella’s antagonist Don Davidson is accused of “irresponsible autonomy” for the way he mistreats the natives of Athshe, this paper asks: is Davidson really irresponsible, or is he rather an alibi for insufficient state control?

Item Type:

Journal Article

Journal or Publication Title:

Extrapolation

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Research Output Funding/no_not_funded

Subjects:

?? ethicsautonomydrone theoryderridaursula k. le guinvietnam warchamayoudeleuzefoucaultresponsibilitydutyscience fictionphilosophyno - not fundedcultural studiesliterature and literary theory ??

Departments:

Lancaster University Management School > Marketing

ID Code:

225408

Deposited By:

ep_importer_pure

Deposited On:

01 Nov 2024 11:35

Refereed?:

Yes

Published?:

Published

Last Modified:

19 Dec 2024 01:24

URI:

https://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/id/eprint/225408