Rossella Prezzo's 'Trame di nascita' Reimagines Humans as 'Common Natal' Rather Than 'Common Mortal'

Philosopher Rossella Prezzo's book 'Trame di nascita tra miti, filosofie, immagini e racconti' (Moretti e Vitali, 2023) explores the concept of birth, proposing a shift from the common phrase 'common mortals' to 'common natal'. Prezzo argues that birth, not death, defines human existence, emphasizing the shared act of being born. The book traces birth through myths (e.g., Zeus's fantastical births), philosophical readings by Hannah Arendt (who defined birth as a miracle of new beginnings) and Maria Zambrano (who saw it as an act of presence), and contemporary issues like assisted reproduction and surrogacy. Prezzo questions whether technological advances, creating a 'mother-machine', push us closer to 'common mortal' than 'common natal'. The review was written by Antonia De Francesco for MIfacciodiCultura.