According to Haraway, there is a strong link between natural sciences and the processes that give them birth, as natural sciences tend to be both historically and culturally oriented. Thus, the convergence of values is not surprising, in particular humanitarian values as well as those related to gender and dominance. It is worth noting that human cultural values are inextricably related to possibilities. Furthermore, it is reasonable to highlight the relations of animal and human, body and mind, nature and culture, as well as origin and future (Haraway 5). Primatology delves into the nature of a man along with his origin, thus primal stories explore how the human nature was transformed.
Nowadays, it could be argued that Ebola, AIDS, tuberculosis and a range of other easily transmitted diseases pose a great threat to modern humanity, and thus purity. While there is the available treatment for TB, the other two pandemics have a high fatality rate. It is argued that AIDS originated in primates, in particular it afflicted chimpanzees long before its emergence among humans. However, other school of thought states that the spread of this and other diseases was documented neither in laboratory nor natural conditions. Currently, various social programs along with legislations have been launched aimed at curing humanity from these outbreaks. Besides, new technologies for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention have been introduced, however they still lack in developing countries.
Being prolific, nature is both myth and reality. It is should be mentioned that nature is considered not merely as the mother of life, but also as the route to knowledge (Haraway 3). Nature is viewed as the system of production and reproduction, that embraces the mental, labor, and sexual functions of the living organisms. According to Haraway, the word “natural” is a synonym of “true”, as nature is a key symbol of innocence. In contrast, a “civilized” man lacks this purity because of his sick vision.
Works Cited
Haraway, Donna. “Primate Visions: Gender, Race, and Nature in the World of Modern Science.” New York, NY: Routledge. 1989. Print.
