Conference: Hegelian Perspectives on the Philosophy of Nature and the Environment

Although the relationship between human beings and nature has always been the subject of philosophical and scientific discussions at various theoretical levels, the current technical and technological condition of human life has introduced new demands for understanding and guiding our thoughts and actions. We contend that Hegel’s philosophy, due to its systematic and transdisciplinary methodology, provides a particularly incisive approach to exploring the relationship between being and knowledge. Specifically, it enables us to tackle questions concerning the connection between human beings, society, and the natural environment. In this respect, the conference will be open to the discussion of a range of problems, including environmental ethics, natural philosophy, philosophy of science, technology, action, general ethics, and political philosophy.

The upcoming 2024 conference, Hegelian Perspectives on the Philosophy of Nature and the Environment, will offer a historically informed platform for discussing crucial contemporary issues in the philosophy of the environment and nature. These issues will be approached through systematic or historical-philosophical methodologies, interpretation of Hegel’s texts, and comparative studies with other authors. The conference will delve into specific problems of environmental ethics, such as how to expand ethical considerations to encompass the relationship between human beings and nature, how to establish an ethics of care and forethought, and how ethics interrelate with metaphysical issues. These metaphysical concerns include the conceptual foundations of knowledge of nature, the ontological and moral status of sentient living beings, the organic relationship between living beings and their environment, and the Earth as an organism. Anthropological aspects can also be explored, such as the inherent embodiment of humans, the concept of “second nature” and its relationship to nature in the strict sense, the dialectic of means and ends in technology, and the overall ethical, political, and conceptual implications of technology.

Bruno Haas (Paris)

Diogo Ferrer (Coimbra)

Ermylos Plevrakis (Heideberg)

Christian Illies (Bamberg)

Christian Krijnen (Amsterdam)

Christian Martin (Stuttgart)

Klaus Vieweg (Jena)

Luca Illetterati (Padova)

Max Gottschlich (Linz)

Paul Cobben (Amsterdam)

Zdravko Kobe (Ljubljana)

Scientific Organization:

Diogo Ferrer (Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal)

Christian Krijnen (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Organization Committee in Coimbra:

Diogo Ferrer and Inês Salgueiro