Schopenhauer, Radical Entanglement, and Futural Ecology
Towards a Natural Limitationism
Keywords:
Schopenhauer, metaphysics, the will, ecology, futurismAbstract
In this essay, we argue that Schopenhauer is an ecological thinker, and more specifically that Schopenhauer’s ecological thought is future-oriented, without becoming fatalistic; it is dark in the sense of being reserved, without falling into despair; and it points towards an ecological attitude characterized by the full realization of our limits, without being quietist. Schopenhauer’s philosophical ecology deals with the great unfolding of the cosmic household (oikos). It shows that ecology cannot be equated with nature conservation or a harmonious world-image, but with embracing a world-image that radically entangles us within it. This leads to the necessity of embracing our limits, without falling into nihilism, alarmism, solutionism, or quietism, yet remaining fully cognizant of our epistemic limitations and representational capacities. This attitude is natural limitationism. Conversely, longtermism thought flattens out this idea. It denies our radical entanglement with the world, proposing salvific technology as the solution to current ecological problems. We argue for adopting a humble and receptive attitude of creative piety, coupled with the full existential realization of our radical entanglement with the biosphere, rendering longtermist thinking irrelevant. Schopenhauer’s philosophical ecology provides a viable organicist alternative to address our current biospheric crises.
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