PhilosophyGyms for Regenerative Futures in SMEs

Hello and welcome to rewilding philosophy - your letters for ^ekophilosophical health in a collapsing world.

At the beginning of 2024, a colleague and I wrote a project proposal for EU funding titled "PhilosophyGyms for Regenerative Futures in SMEs." It was approved by August last year, and just last week, we finally got to kick it off. I can’t tell you how excited I am about this—not only to actually implement the project but also to see that initiatives like this are considered fund-worthy by the EU. I find that very encouraging. Moreover, the meeting was so nourishing and the group is so diverse that it truly feels like a transdisciplinary endeavour.

At the same time, I am still somewhat in hibernation mode and having a hard time bringing words to the page. My thoughts are not very coherent—they seem to drift like autumn leaves, somersaulting on winds yet never quite reaching the earth—and there seems to be so much going on that nothing wants to come out. Restless, indecisive, chaotic. My words are as coy as shy woodland creatures, peeking tentatively from the underbrush, waiting for a quietude to coax them out.

I am in the practice of accepting this phase of the cycle, which feels sandwiched between the seasons—neither an echo of winter's silence nor the budding promise of spring's renewal. I hope that underneath the snow, there is latent energy awaiting just the right warmth to burst forth. However, it feels as though the snow will never melt and I will never find a word again.

"Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence. Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance. Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence. Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance." Yoko Ono

So, today, I don’t have a typical letter for you; instead, I am sharing the press release for the project.

Which brings me to something else I’d like to share. While writing the press release, I noticed how I had to adjust my usual writing language and love for nuance, for the sake of making it accessible, interesting and readable for an audience that has, as of now, no prior knowledge or interest in topics like relational philosophies. This is something I constantly struggle with. And ultimately, something I deeply aspire to achieve: to convey nuance, complexity, relationality, uncertainty, nonlinearity, and vulnerability in a simple text. While thinkers such as Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Gregory Bateson, or Ken Wilber argue against simplicity - and I agree with their reasoning of avoiding over-simplification and the trap of reductionism - I still want my writing to be simple enough.

So, here comes the hopefully simple enough press release.

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In the face of a confluence of environmental, social, and economic challenges—an innovative initiative called PhilosophyGyms is exploring an unusual path to sustainability. By integrating philosophical inquiry into the core of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), PhilosophyGyms aim to equip businesses with new and innovative tools needed to navigate uncertainty and foster triple-wellbeing - individual, collective and planetary health - and sustainability. The project, backed by academic and business leaders across Europe, seeks to empower organizations to address underlying root causes while driving positive change.

The Polycrisis

Today’s global landscape is fraught with what experts call the "polycrisis," a tangled web of crises that include environmental degradation, social disparities, and economic volatility, as well as a decline in mental health. To address these issues, traditional responses often focus on what sustainability scientists call the “outer dimension”, such as technical fixes or policy adjustments. These solutions seem apparent, yet they also often fall short of addressing deeper root causes, our human inner dimensions or mindsets. In the midst of this, SMEs face the challenge of navigating these complexities while running a business. Studies show that nearly 71% of employees feel overwhelmed by job complexity, and according to the World Health Organisation depression contributes to an estimated US$1 trillion loss in productivity globally each year due to absenteeism and diminished performance, echoing the urgent need for new ways of thinking, being and acting amidst rising statutory pressures and unpredictable transformations.

Philosophy as a Cause and Driver of Change

Tapping into centuries-old wisdom, as well as into the latest science, PhilosophyGyms infuse philosophical inquiry into the core of businesses striving for sustainability. PhilosophyGyms don’t merely focus on theoretical pursuit. Instead, the approach challenges participants to reflect, reframe, and respond creatively to uncertain landscapes. By exploring personal and collective philosophies or mindsets, SMEs can unlock new capabilities to tackle wicked problems, that are volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous, through uncovering the deeper questions that determine their decision making and solutions.

Philosophy in Action

How do PhilosophyGyms work? PhilosophyGyms will offer a suite of transformative learning experiences, enabling leaders and employees within SMEs to engage in deep philosophical inquiry to nurture personal growth for triple-wellbeing. Participants explore ethics, responsibility, and systems thinking—tools to confront biases, spark novel solutions, and foster a culture of care within their organizations. "By integrating philosophical dimensions into the fabric of SMEs, we're not just offering another toolset. We're offering inquiries into what lies beyond current tools to help people find new, innovative approaches to sustainability and business resilience," says Jessica Böhme. “The project moves beyond surface-level solutions, addressing the root causes of our societal and ecological challenges, increasing SMEs role in supporting more sustainable futures both within and beyond their own enterprise.” 

The project, co-funded by the European Union, brings together a diverse consortium of academic and practical experts. From the academic sphere, Jessica Böhme and Alana Lamberts represent FHM Berlin, alongside Christine Wamsler from Lund University. Complementing them, the practical partners include Katarzyna Mitrut and Artur Mazurek from the consultancy firm Paiz, Daniela Ilcheva from the Yambol Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bulgaria, and Bruna Gomes and Carlos Carvalho from Virtual Campus.

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On a last note, Grokkist, who I have been collaborating with before, is publishing some of my recent articles. If you are not familiar with them, I highly recommend checking them out. They refer to themselves as “a regenerative, member-driven community for those who navigate the world with boundless curiosity and care.” And that’s exactly what I have found there - wonderful, curious, highly intelligent and open people who make sense of the world in unique ways.