The BIP, aligned with the Hub theme “Heritage and Global Epistemologies”, focuses on the following question: how can we gain a new perspective on nature, while deconstructing the notion of nature shaped by European culture, a notion all too often considered self-evident and scientific? Is there a gap between nature and culture, as European philosophy has argued for centuries? Or should we follow anthropologist Philippe Descola, who shows that in other societies this distinction either does not exist at all or, conversely, leaves room for the idea that there is only one “culture,” while beings differ in terms of their various “natures”?

During this interdisciplinary course, participants – philosophy and cultural theory PhD students from all CIVIS universities – will have the opportunity to work alongside lecturers from five different CIVIS universities on the “Is There a Plurality of Natures? Intercultural Reflections on the Philosophy of Nature” topic. 

By taking a phenomenological approach to explore the experience of nature, we will be able to determine whether, as Klaus Held suggests, there is an “invariant” of nature underlying all possible “worlds”, or if nature is merely a “worldly” phenomenon, as Martin Heidegger proposes. 

We also examine various philosophical perspectives ranging from ancient Greece to the present day, and from European to non-European philosophy. This enables us to understand the origins of the current concept of nature, and how different approaches can deepen our understanding.

We reconsider the gap between nature and culture by taking an intercultural approach. It allows us to show how ideas, cultures and traditions depend on their environment, while acknowledging the way in which they allow the environment itself to emerge like the one sustaining them, as the philosopher Tetsuro Watsuji argues. 

Thus, we bring into discussion the fact that “nature” appears always differently and that, instead of being a substantial, immutable reality, it is rather an interrogation, to which we, as humans, respond always in a different way.

To which questions and challenges of nature must our epoch respond and how do these challenges mirror our way of understanding humanity?

The course is part of a PhD-network we established amongst CIVIS-Universities in the field of Plural Ontologies and Intercultural Philosophy. The added value of the project consists of:

1. a student-centred approach
2. a research-based approach
3. a unique scientific perspective: there are few specialists in intercultural philosophy in Europe, intercultural philosophy not being widely represented in the universities of the project. The course’s subject is relevant to broader European and global challenges. Our approach tackles both a cultural and philosophical understanding of nature, as well as current issues such as the ethics of our relationship with nature and human responses to contemporary environmental problems.

During the in-person workshop each participant presents a paper on parts of her/ his dissertation project, related to the class.  

Main topics addressed during the course

• train students for the research by providing them with the opportunity to take part in academic discussions on specific texts and by receiving feedback from the lecturers and their fellow students both throughout the semester, as well as – and mainly – throughout the in-person workshop;
• give the lecturers the opportunity to network with researchers working on fields close to their own, beyond the borders of their own university;
• contribute to the development of the established CIVIS PhD Network “Plural Ontologies and Intercultural Philosophy”, bringing together academics and PhD students from several CIVIS universities.

Learning outcomes

• getting answers and results with regard to at least some of the research questions and problems that the students formulated in the beginning of the class;
• gaining the ability to critically engage with philosophical questions regarding nature, environment and interculturality and with contemporary themes like climate change and the nature/culture relationship;
• the ability to work in an interdisciplinary group and to exchange cross-disciplinary;
• the ability to present one’s own research in front of a wider academic public;

In addition, the course is meant to provide opportunities to network amongst different CIVIS-universities and to create a network of alumni.

Practical details https://civis-agora.widening.eu/offering/46/2316