Why ekoPhilosophy Matters.
Hello and welcome to rewilding philosophy, your newsletter about ekophilosophical health for our times.
Depending on your perspective, ekophilosophy holds different significance.
The benefits in transformation research
My academic home is transformation research and this is also what led me to ekophilosophy to begin with. Within transformation research one of the key questions is where and how to intervene in a complex systems to change it. While technolgical and political measures are important, a key driver for systems change lie within the underlying mental patterns that created these systems in the first place—often referred to as the inner dimension. This inner dimension can be elusive, typically addressed through psychological approaches. Yet, it’s our philosophies that determine if we see the world as a machine - which is said to be a key driver for the challenges we face - or as a living relational organism in which we play a part. I also found that practicing philosophy is a self-transformational practice oriented towards the philosophical principles that I chose to orient myself to. And with that, philosophy - if oriented towards the ecosystems and ecologies that we are part of - can be the key driver for transformations towards social-ecological just futures.
The benefits in regeneration
In regeneration circles, there is often talk of a narrative shift—from stories of mechanics and separation to those of relationships and living systems. This aim aligns closely with what transformation research pursues but shifts towards a more goal-oriented, normative focus. While the term “philosophy” might not be frequently used in this community, the narrative shift they advocate for fundamentally involves altering our underlying philosophy and actively engaging in its practice. Philosophy matters as it guides the what, how, and why of this narrative shift.
The benefits in philosophy
For those immersed in philosophy, perhaps as taught in university, the relevance of ekophilosophy may appear in a different light. Drawing on thinkers like Hadot and Foucault, it becomes clear that ancient philosophy was deeply practical—more than just intellectual exercises, it was a way of life. Logical discourse was a mere component because genuine philosophical knowledge required integration into daily life. As Seneca aptly stated, "Philosophy teaches us to act, not to speak." Thus, philosophy was an embodied practice, a fusion of truth and subjective experience, ultimately about working on oneself. The work in philosophy then is really more a working on oneself.
The benefits in everyday life
For people who might not be particularly interested in philosophy or sustainability science, what benefits does ekophilosophy offer them? Despite limited empirical research—something the Institute of Practical ekophilosophy (IPeP) aims to change—philosophy is said to:
Increase Well-being: By cultivating an understanding of ourselves and our role within the larger ecosystems.
Improve Resilience: Providing a philosophical framework to navigate challenges in uncertain times.
Enhance Complex Problem Solving: Shifting from predefined solutions to fostering individual thought processes for personal answers. Practicing philosophy gives us the underlying principles instead of prescriptive tools.
Provide Meaning: Situating us within the broader context of the planet and universe.
When discussing ekophilosophy with friends and family, many of whom share neither a strong interest in philosophy nor sustainability science, I explain how pursuing ekophilosophy brought meaning and depth to my life that I wouldn’t want to miss for the world. Beyond the aforementioned benefits, I have found that ekophilosophy:
Harmonizes Mind and World: By situating us. While the above benefits are not particular to ekoPhilosophy, but apply to philosophy in general, the eko as a prefix emphasis to find and to create our place in relation to our home (the ecos), taking into account planetary boundaries and all that. To me, this is essential to relate practical philosophy to material form.
Empowers Independent Thought: Especially in times of the Anthropocene, I find that many of the systems that I am part of are not how I think they should function. Through practicing philosophy I not only become aware of the malfunctions, but also continue to learn to think for myself how I’d like to see it differently, and also how I then show up and act accordingly. This typically requires a lot of resilience, because a lot of the time, I am not complying to the norm and it’s in my personality that I typically really like to fit in (I recommend reading The Outsider).
Bridges the Knowledge-Action Gap: As an embodied practice, ekoPhilosophy aligns perception of the world with the world, integrating ways of knowing, being, and acting.
In essence, practical ekophilosophy offers a way to redefine the Good Life within the context of the Anthropocene and practice living accordingly.
Just going back to the word itself- it’s a beautiful word- love of wisdom. It’s also interesting how ‘philosophy’ can be different depending on the culture we in, and by this I don’t mean the ‘philosophical mood or debates’ but instead the questions that each culture invites us to ask about ourselves and the culture we are in. And indeed I think ‘transformation’ is an interesting/meaningful one nowadays, as you point out.
This is a great manifesto of sorts, and it clearly outlines the value of your perspective to those of us struggling in the modern world. I’m left curious though regarding the key insight by which you feel this philosophical approach transforms modern consciousness. How our ideas regarding health, self, ecosystem, and nature that fracture ourselves, or restore our wholeness. I feel that by clarifying the intersection between the ways we understand health in the mind, in the body, in social relations, in our ecosystems, and in technological systems, we can get a more unified outlook on health. I know you dive into this a lot in your philosophy of “ekophilosophical health”, though moving beyond the philosophical and into the physiological and the cognitive can be a challenging intellectual gap. I feel that the individualized niche concept — stretching from the cognitive niche, through the social and ecological dimensions into the environmental and technological space — can really help clarify and ground us in our bio-psycho-social and spiritual contexts.