# Donna Haraway

> American philosopher, scholar in the field of science and technology studies

**Wikidata**: [Q253407](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q253407)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Haraway)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/donna-haraway

## Summary
Donna Haraway is an American philosopher and scholar renowned for her work in science and technology studies. Born on September 6, 1944, she is celebrated for her influential essays, particularly "A Cyborg Manifesto," which redefined feminist approaches to science, technology, and identity. Her interdisciplinary research bridges philosophy, feminism, and critical theory, profoundly impacting contemporary debates on human-machine interactions and environmental ethics.

## Biography
- **Born**: September 6, 1944
- **Nationality**: American
- **Education**: 
  - Doctorate in History of Biology (University of Wisconsin–Madison)
  - Master's in Zoology (University of Wisconsin–Madison)
  - Bachelor's in Zoology (University of Colorado Boulder)
- **Known for**: Pioneering contributions to feminist science studies and the concept of the "cyborg" as a metaphor for postmodern identity.
- **Employer(s)**: 
  - University of California, Santa Cruz (Distinguished Professor)
  - Johns Hopkins University
  - University of Hawaiʻi System
  - European Graduate School
- **Field(s)**: Science and Technology Studies, Feminist Theory, Philosophy

## Contributions
- **"A Cyborg Manifesto" (1985)**: Introduced the cyborg as a feminist symbol, challenging traditional notions of human identity and advocating for a politics of affinity rather than essentialism.
- **"Simians, Cyborgs, and Women" (1991)**: Collected essays critiquing biological determinism and exploring the intersection of feminism, science, and technology.
- **"When Species Meet" (2008)**: Examined human-animal relationships, emphasizing ethical responsibility and multispecies kinship.
- **Feminist Science Studies**: Developed critical frameworks for analyzing the social and cultural dimensions of scientific knowledge production.
- **Environmental Humanities**: Contributed to discussions on the Anthropocene, advocating for collaborative survival strategies among humans and nonhumans.

## FAQs
**Q: What is Donna Haraway's most famous work?**  
A: Her 1985 essay "A Cyborg Manifesto" is widely regarded as her seminal contribution, reimagining feminist politics through the lens of cyborg identity.

**Q: Where has Donna Haraway taught?**  
A: She has held positions at the University of California, Santa Cruz; Johns Hopkins University; the University of Hawaiʻi System; and the European Graduate School.

**Q: What fields has Donna Haraway influenced?**  
A: Her work spans science and technology studies, feminist theory, environmental humanities, and philosophy, with a focus on critiquing traditional binaries (e.g., human/animal, nature/culture).

**Q: What awards has Donna Haraway received?**  
A: She has been honored with the John Desmond Bernal Prize, the Ludwik Fleck Prize, and the Erasmus Prize, among others, recognizing her interdisciplinary scholarship.

**Q: How has Donna Haraway's work impacted contemporary thought?**  
A: Her concepts of the cyborg and multispecies kinship have reshaped debates on identity, ethics, and environmental responsibility, influencing fields from anthropology to science fiction.

## Why They Matter
Donna Haraway's work has fundamentally transformed how scholars and the public engage with science, technology, and environmental ethics. By challenging rigid categorizations and advocating for inclusive, collaborative frameworks, she has provided tools to address global challenges like climate change and technological disruption. Her emphasis on relationality—whether between humans, animals, or machines—has inspired new ethical paradigms, ensuring her ideas remain central to contemporary discourse across disciplines.

## Notable For
- **Pioneering the cyborg as a feminist metaphor** in "A Cyborg Manifesto" (1985).
- **Receiving the Erasmus Prize (2018)** for her contributions to the humanities and social sciences.
- **Developing the concept of "situated knowledges"**, which argues that all knowledge is context-dependent and partial.
- **Influencing science fiction and popular culture** through her accessible, provocative critiques of technology and identity.
- **Advocating for multispecies responsibility** in the Anthropocene era, urging ethical engagement with nonhuman entities.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Donna Jeanne Haraway was born on September 6, 1944, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She pursued her undergraduate studies in zoology at the University of Colorado Boulder, later earning her master's and doctorate in the history of biology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This scientific background informed her later critiques of biological determinism and objectivity in science.

### Academic Career
Haraway began her academic career at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she became a Distinguished Professor of the History of Consciousness. She also taught at Johns Hopkins University, the University of Hawaiʻi System, and the European Graduate School. Her interdisciplinary approach drew from philosophy, anthropology, and feminist theory, establishing her as a leading voice in science and technology studies.

### Key Works and Ideas
- **"A Cyborg Manifesto" (1985)**: This essay redefined feminist discourse by embracing the cyborg—a being of both flesh and machine—as a symbol of resistance to essentialist identities. Haraway argued that cyborgs embody the intersection of technology, nature, and culture, offering a framework for coalition-building across differences.
- **"Simians, Cyborgs, and Women" (1991)**: This collection of essays critiqued the notion of objective science, emphasizing how social and cultural contexts shape scientific knowledge. Haraway introduced the concept of "situated knowledges," asserting that all understanding is partial and rooted in specific perspectives.
- **"When Species Meet" (2008)**: Focusing on human-animal relationships, Haraway urged ethical accountability in multispecies encounters. She explored how practices like pet ownership and laboratory research reflect broader power dynamics and ethical responsibilities.

### Awards and Recognition
Haraway's contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the John Desmond Bernal Prize for outstanding scholarship in science and technology studies, the Ludwik Fleck Prize for her book *The Companion Species Manifesto*, and the prestigious Erasmus Prize in 2018. These honors reflect her global influence across academia and public intellectual life.

### Influence and Legacy
Haraway's work has resonated beyond academia, inspiring movements in ecofeminism, animal studies, and science fiction. Her cyborg metaphor has been adopted in discussions of artificial intelligence, gender identity, and posthumanism. By emphasizing relational ethics and the collapse of human/nonhuman binaries, she has equipped scholars and activists to address contemporary challenges like climate change and biotechnological innovation. Her legacy lies in fostering a more inclusive, critically engaged understanding of science, technology, and the natural world.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. [Source](http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09574049908578386)
3. [Source](http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1386/jcc.3.1.49_1)
4. [Source](http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/14484528.2011.554162)
5. LIBRIS. 2004
6. datos.bne.es
7. American Women Writers
8. [Source](https://www.literaturpreisgewinner.de/belletristik-international/american-book-awards#_1992)
9. [Source](https://pact.egs.edu/biography/donna-haraway/)
10. [Source](https://4sonline.org/1981_earlier_bernal_prize_winners.php)
11. [Source](http://gsas.yale.edu/news/yale-graduate-school-honors-four-alumni-wilbur-cross-medals)
12. International Standard Name Identifier
13. CiNii Research
14. Bibliothèque nationale de France
15. Virtual International Authority File
16. SNAC
17. FemBio database
18. Czech National Authority Database
19. Babelio
20. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
21. Open Library
22. House of lost worlds: dinosaurs, dynasties, and the story of life on earth
23. CONOR.SI
24. BBC Things
25. Goodreads
26. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
27. Quora
28. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
29. The Movie Database