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Papers by Nathan Van Camp

Research paper thumbnail of Next Exit: Drift Culture

Cultural Politics, Mar 1, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Enhancing the Natal Condition: Hannah Arendt and the Question of Biotechnology

Research paper thumbnail of Negotiating the Anthropological Limit. Derrida, Stiegler, and the Question of the Animal

Between the Species: An Online Journal for the Study of Philosophy and Animals, 2011

Although much has been written about the so-called political, ethical and religious turns in the ... more Although much has been written about the so-called political, ethical and religious turns in the thinking of Jacques Derrida, few have noticed that his late writings were marked by what we could tentatively call a "zoological turn." This is surprising given that in The Animal That Therefore I Am Derrida clearly stated that the question as to what distinguishes the human from the animal has for him always been the most important question of philosophy. This essay will attempt to offer a preliminary exploration of this still largely uncharted aspect of Derrida's thought. Starting from a brief overview of Derrida's most important writings on the question of the animal, it will be argued that his decision to write an entire book on this issue was largely motivated by his eagerness to settle a discussion with one of his pupils, the French theorist of technology Bernard Stiegler.

Research paper thumbnail of The Expansion of Forensic DNA Databases and Police Sampling Powers in the Post-9/11 Era

Ethical Perspectives, 2007

ABSTRACT. Although DNA profiling has been an important forensic research technique since the late... more ABSTRACT. Although DNA profiling has been an important forensic research technique since the late 1980s, for a long time, it had not captured much atten-tion from either academics or the public so far. In recent years, this neglect seems to have ended. Not only has wide-spread ...

Research paper thumbnail of The expansion of forensic DNA databases and police sampling powers in the post-9/11 era : Ethical considerations on genetic privacy

Ethical Perspectives Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 2007

ABSTRACT. Although DNA profiling has been an important forensic research technique since the late... more ABSTRACT. Although DNA profiling has been an important forensic research technique since the late 1980s, for a long time, it had not captured much atten-tion from either academics or the public so far. In recent years, this neglect seems to have ended. Not only has wide-spread ...

Research paper thumbnail of Matter and Form: From Natural Science to Political Philosophy. Edited by Ann Ward

The European Legacy, Apr 1, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Heidegger and the Question Concerning Biotechnology

From the mid-thirties onwards, Martin Heidegger occasionally speculated about the future possibil... more From the mid-thirties onwards, Martin Heidegger occasionally speculated about the future possibility of artificially producing human beings. What is at stake in biotechnology, Heidegger claims, is the imminent possibility of the destruction of the human essence. It is unclear, however, how Heidegger can substantiate such a claim given that he consistently denounced attempts to define human Dasein as a living being to which a higher capacity such as reason or language is added. This paper will argue that, in this sense, Heidegger took the radical challenge of biotechnology both too seriously and not seriously enough. Too seriously, because it is unclear why he would fear the annihilation of Dasein's essence if he is convinced that this essence is not related to man's biological equipment in the first place. Not seriously enough, because Heidegger at the same time remained convinced that even the most intrusive interventions in the human body will not be able to disrupt Dasein's ontological essence.

Research paper thumbnail of Derrida and the Jewish Heritage

Research paper thumbnail of Sidetracking the Theologico-Political Problem: Hannah Arendt's Critique of Political Technology

Research paper thumbnail of The Techno-Human Condition

The European Legacy, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Matter and Form: From Natural Science to Political Philosophy. Edited by Ann Ward

The European Legacy, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of The retention of forensic DNA samples: a socio-ethical evaluation of current practices in the EU

Journal of Medical Ethics, 2008

Since the mid-1990s most EU Member States have established a national forensic DNA database. Thes... more Since the mid-1990s most EU Member States have established a national forensic DNA database. These mass repositories of DNA profiles enable the police to identify DNA stains which are found at crime scenes and are invaluable in criminal investigation. Governments have always brushed aside privacy objections by stressing that the stored DNA profiles do not contain sensitive genetic information on the included individuals and that they reside under the statutory privacy protection regulations. However, it has been generally overlooked that the police also store the DNA samples from which the DNA profiles are derived. Although these DNA samples are actually a potential source of genetic information, they have so far scarcely been the subject of discussion. In this article we will show that both European and national regulations offer inadequate protection to completely prevent function creep, that is, the use of these forensic DNA samples for purposes beyond those envisaged at the time of collection.

Research paper thumbnail of Stiegler, Habermas and the Techno‐logical Condition of Man

Journal for Cultural Research, 2009

ABSTRACT

Research paper thumbnail of The Expansion of Forensic DNA Databases and Police Sampling Powers in the Post-9/11 Era

Ethical Perspectives, 2007

ABSTRACT. Although DNA profiling has been an important forensic research technique since the late... more ABSTRACT. Although DNA profiling has been an important forensic research technique since the late 1980s, for a long time, it had not captured much atten-tion from either academics or the public so far. In recent years, this neglect seems to have ended. Not only has wide-spread ...

Research paper thumbnail of Next Exit: Drift Culture

Cultural Politics, Mar 1, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Enhancing the Natal Condition: Hannah Arendt and the Question of Biotechnology

Research paper thumbnail of Negotiating the Anthropological Limit. Derrida, Stiegler, and the Question of the Animal

Between the Species: An Online Journal for the Study of Philosophy and Animals, 2011

Although much has been written about the so-called political, ethical and religious turns in the ... more Although much has been written about the so-called political, ethical and religious turns in the thinking of Jacques Derrida, few have noticed that his late writings were marked by what we could tentatively call a "zoological turn." This is surprising given that in The Animal That Therefore I Am Derrida clearly stated that the question as to what distinguishes the human from the animal has for him always been the most important question of philosophy. This essay will attempt to offer a preliminary exploration of this still largely uncharted aspect of Derrida's thought. Starting from a brief overview of Derrida's most important writings on the question of the animal, it will be argued that his decision to write an entire book on this issue was largely motivated by his eagerness to settle a discussion with one of his pupils, the French theorist of technology Bernard Stiegler.

Research paper thumbnail of The Expansion of Forensic DNA Databases and Police Sampling Powers in the Post-9/11 Era

Ethical Perspectives, 2007

ABSTRACT. Although DNA profiling has been an important forensic research technique since the late... more ABSTRACT. Although DNA profiling has been an important forensic research technique since the late 1980s, for a long time, it had not captured much atten-tion from either academics or the public so far. In recent years, this neglect seems to have ended. Not only has wide-spread ...

Research paper thumbnail of The expansion of forensic DNA databases and police sampling powers in the post-9/11 era : Ethical considerations on genetic privacy

Ethical Perspectives Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 2007

ABSTRACT. Although DNA profiling has been an important forensic research technique since the late... more ABSTRACT. Although DNA profiling has been an important forensic research technique since the late 1980s, for a long time, it had not captured much atten-tion from either academics or the public so far. In recent years, this neglect seems to have ended. Not only has wide-spread ...

Research paper thumbnail of Matter and Form: From Natural Science to Political Philosophy. Edited by Ann Ward

The European Legacy, Apr 1, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Heidegger and the Question Concerning Biotechnology

From the mid-thirties onwards, Martin Heidegger occasionally speculated about the future possibil... more From the mid-thirties onwards, Martin Heidegger occasionally speculated about the future possibility of artificially producing human beings. What is at stake in biotechnology, Heidegger claims, is the imminent possibility of the destruction of the human essence. It is unclear, however, how Heidegger can substantiate such a claim given that he consistently denounced attempts to define human Dasein as a living being to which a higher capacity such as reason or language is added. This paper will argue that, in this sense, Heidegger took the radical challenge of biotechnology both too seriously and not seriously enough. Too seriously, because it is unclear why he would fear the annihilation of Dasein's essence if he is convinced that this essence is not related to man's biological equipment in the first place. Not seriously enough, because Heidegger at the same time remained convinced that even the most intrusive interventions in the human body will not be able to disrupt Dasein's ontological essence.

Research paper thumbnail of Derrida and the Jewish Heritage

Research paper thumbnail of Sidetracking the Theologico-Political Problem: Hannah Arendt's Critique of Political Technology

Research paper thumbnail of The Techno-Human Condition

The European Legacy, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Matter and Form: From Natural Science to Political Philosophy. Edited by Ann Ward

The European Legacy, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of The retention of forensic DNA samples: a socio-ethical evaluation of current practices in the EU

Journal of Medical Ethics, 2008

Since the mid-1990s most EU Member States have established a national forensic DNA database. Thes... more Since the mid-1990s most EU Member States have established a national forensic DNA database. These mass repositories of DNA profiles enable the police to identify DNA stains which are found at crime scenes and are invaluable in criminal investigation. Governments have always brushed aside privacy objections by stressing that the stored DNA profiles do not contain sensitive genetic information on the included individuals and that they reside under the statutory privacy protection regulations. However, it has been generally overlooked that the police also store the DNA samples from which the DNA profiles are derived. Although these DNA samples are actually a potential source of genetic information, they have so far scarcely been the subject of discussion. In this article we will show that both European and national regulations offer inadequate protection to completely prevent function creep, that is, the use of these forensic DNA samples for purposes beyond those envisaged at the time of collection.

Research paper thumbnail of Stiegler, Habermas and the Techno‐logical Condition of Man

Journal for Cultural Research, 2009

ABSTRACT

Research paper thumbnail of The Expansion of Forensic DNA Databases and Police Sampling Powers in the Post-9/11 Era

Ethical Perspectives, 2007

ABSTRACT. Although DNA profiling has been an important forensic research technique since the late... more ABSTRACT. Although DNA profiling has been an important forensic research technique since the late 1980s, for a long time, it had not captured much atten-tion from either academics or the public so far. In recent years, this neglect seems to have ended. Not only has wide-spread ...