The earth-form of life: Nasa thought and the limits of the modern episteme

Abstract

This article examines a framework constructed by the Nasa indigenous people of Southwest Colombia, centered on the statement of the Liberation of Mother Earth. Taking the Nasa statement as a point of departure, the article establishes a conversation between the Nasa proposal and the discourse analysis and archeology of knowledge developed by Michel Foucault. The detailed reading of the Nasa archive allows us to argue that the notion of the Liberation of Mother Earth –a genuine concept-movement--, may be taken as a powerful principle for political action and design endeavors. This principle also affords clues to understand the task of “weaving life in liberty,” from wherever each person of group happens to be located. Finally, it is argued that the lucid Nasa knowledge points at a civilizational change, from the Man-form of life (anthropocentric modernity) to the Earth-form, based on the radical interdependence of everything that exists.