Connecting with Nature: Ideas from Environmental Philosophy

We live in a world of environmental crisis – climate breakdown, extreme pollution, and bio-diversity loss. It is often recognised that before we change our environmental behaviours, we must first change our ways of thinking about nature. But this is easier said than done. What real possibilities exist for this dramatic shift in our conceptualisation of nature?

It is the role of philosophy to explore, create, and justify such new ways of thinking. This event brings leading academics working on a range of innovative environmental ideas, together with environmental activists, community leaders, policymakers, and interested members of the public. The project will run three events across the UK. Each event will begin with a brief introduction from the academic participants, and a semi-structured conversation around the topic. The organizers will then lead a nature walk whilst the conversation continues informally. A summary discussion will finish the walk. Following the walk, a film related to the topic will be screened in a local cinema, introduced by one or more of the academics, with a Q&A to follow the screening.