Eco-phenomenological vision

balancing the harmony of the earth

Debika Saha

pp. 187-190

in: William S. Smith, Jadwiga Smith, Daniela Verducci (eds), Eco-Phenomenology, Berlin, Springer, 2018

Abstract

Phenomenology, a movement which started its journey through the writings of Edmund Husserl, has now occupied a special place not only to the philosophers but also to those who are really eager to save the earth from environmental degradation. But phenomenology deals with certain key concepts like its resistance with naturalistic attitude and keeping engaged within the "intentional' realm, which forces one to question: how could there be a phenomenology of nature? Though it may seem outwardly that phenomenology deals with certain concepts which stand in quite opposite directions to those who talk about environmental wellbeing of the earth, if one goes deeper the picture presents a different view.The return to "things themselves" and the critique of scientific naturalism both point in the direction of much contemporary environmental thought. In fact, phenomenology offers a space for the interdisciplinary examination of our relation with nature. The nature-culture vision provides an open horizon for the exploration of all possibilities regarding our relation with the cosmos as a whole. The present paper will try to unveil how, within the phenomenological realm, eco-phenomenological vision is possible.

Cited authors

Husserl Edmund