Prof. N. Katherine Hayles is a powerhouse of thought. In Bacteria to AI: Human Futures with Our Nonhuman Symbionts, she introduces an "integrated cognitive framework" (ICF) that radically redefines cognition—not as a uniquely human faculty, but as a distributed phenomenon shared across biological organisms and certain artificial intelligences. This paradigm shift challenges entrenched anthropocentrism, urging a collaborative reimagining of agency and intelligence in the face of ecological collapse.
What truly distinguishes Hayles, however, is not just the boldness of her vision, but the elegance with which she weaves together insights from literature, science, philosophy, and technology. I remain in awe of thinkers who can gracefully juggle vast constellations of concepts, theories, and epistemologies—reminding us of the full potential of human intellect. In an era when algorithmic superstructures threaten to dull our cognitive capacities, Hayles offers a luminous, urgent framework—one we’d do well to engage with now, before we lose the very ability to comprehend it.
Share this post