Only when we are philosophically healthy, meaning that our ways of knowing, being and acting are in resonant alignment with our ecos (our homes, which includes our bodies as much as the whole planet), can we live a life that feels fulfilling, meaningful, existentially healthy, vibrant, effortless, adventurous, peaceful, mindful, quite, full, or ___ (insert your aspired way of life here).
If this is something you want, you’ve come to the right place.
Is this for you? 🐍
You are unsure of how to live your best life - especially in the face of the metacrisis.
You have made the experience that most pre-formulated answers to that question don’t work for you.
You don’t want to be fixed. You don’t even want to fix yourself. What you do want is to wander the wild-ness of ideas with other people who are okay with not having answers - people who’d rather ask better questions than pretend they’ve figured it out.
This is for overthinkers, underbelly-stare-rs, the “I’ve read all the self-help books, every philosophy book and still feel like a bundle of contradictions” people and especially for people who deeply care about the state of the world.
No bullet points. No life hacks. Just a weekly invitation to get lost in the weeds - and maybe, sometimes, find something there.
Hi there, I’m Jes.
I am a sustainability scientist. More specifically a transformation researcher. I ask myself how we can transform from the metacrisis into something new, something that’s better. The best way to do that - I found in 10+ years of research - is through living philosophically.
True philosophy has one question that contains all others: “How do you live the best life?” This question is answered by holding the perspective of the Universe in our mind, observing the essence of its movements, and applying those discoveries to our lives in a practical manner.
While philosophy often explores grand, overarching concepts, these ideas find their true meaning only in the context of lived experiences and the difficulties associated with everyday life: A narrow preoccupation with the specific troubles of everyday life, can lead to losing sight of bigger concepts and ideas. Similarly, an exclusive focus on abstract principles can make them feel detached from the pressing nature of our individual, day-to-day problems. For philosophy to be truly beneficial, it must therefore bridge these two perspectives - the whole and the part. When these differing scales of thought are brought into a meaningful relationship, new ways of knowing, being and acting can emerge.
This is what you’ll find in my writing. Not as answers, but as explorations - a constant de- and reconstruction around the question how to live the best life, moving between the very universal and the very personal.
A core of living philosophically is living and thriving in uncertainty. Living philosophically is untamed. It’s the lichen on the rock lichen-ing, the mycelium underfoot mycelium-ing, the invisible process that lives where rigid categories crack.
What you should know 🤓
Anything I write is to be taken with a grain of salt.
I like the idea of leaving an intellectual inheritance. Humans progress by adding layer upon layer of knowledge. They become wise when they apply that knowledge. We all benefit from the knowledge and wisdom of our ancestors. I’m trying to add a little bit by sharing my work. I don’t think I have all the answers, but sometimes I will pretend that I do, because research shows that you will be more willing to listen to me when I sound assertive.
My goal is to offer some wisdom-ing.
I aspire to be like Lauren Hill who is determined to become like “one of those mad scientists” who tests theories on themselves first to affirm that they work. Often, you will read about this process of testing theories. To me, this is a spiritual, deliberate and devotional daily practice.
Hypothesis I work with 🔭🔬
My assumption is that the key for a regnerative future is by living philosophically, integrating scientific knowledge, embodied knowledge as well as spiritual insights.
About me 🤸🏼♀️💚🎨
Here are a few notable things about me
founder and director of the Institute for practical ekoPhilosophy (IPeP).
professor and academic director in technology management at FHM Berlin (As far as I am aware I am one of the few who try to bring insights from philosophy, ecology and the humanities into a management program)
my work and insights are extremely interdisciplinary. I have a PhD in social science, a Master in sustainability, and a Diploma in mechanical engineering.
author of three books
scientific advisor @ Urbnance
associate @ Contemplative Sustainable Futures Program
alumni-fellow at the Thinktank 30, Club of Rome
alumni-club member of the Cocreation Loft
former artist in residency @ Moos Garden
co-founder of MetaSangha and co-creator of Metamodern Arts Festival
What I am into 🕵️♀️:
process philosophy, psychomagic, meaning making, post humanism, interspecies communication, imaginaries, solar punk, paradigm-ing, tricksters, analytic idealism, metamodernism, complex systems theory.
What I strive to live by 👵🏼:
to live an inquisitive life
to live in right relation to reality
to remain open to becoming a changed person (again and again)
to keep being curious and in awe
and very importantly: to enjoy this self
