Becoming a Place of Unrest: Environmental Crisis and Ecophenomenological Praxis

The environmental crisis requires a philosophical revision of how we think about and behave in relation to the world. Robert Booth's book "Becoming a Place of Unrest" brings ecophenomenology into dialogue with other philosophical approaches to argue that we must critically and self-reflexively revise how we perceive and consider ourselves within the more-than-human world as a matter of praxis to arrest our destructive impact on it. He calls for us to habitually resist our impetus to uncritically reduce more-than-human entities to "natural resources" and outlines the basic means by which to instill positive and responsible conceptual and behavioral relationships with the rest of the world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 07 September 2021
Publisher: Ohio University Press

The environmental crisis is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach. While scientific knowledge is crucial, it is not enough to mitigate the crisis. We need to undergo a profound philosophical revision of our relationship with the world around us. This shift involves recognizing that the environment is not just a resource to be exploited but a living, breathing entity that is interconnected with us.

Robert Booth, in his book "The More-Than-Human World: Embracing the Environmental Crisis," argues that our anthropocentric presumption of the environment, inherited from natural science, has led us to better scientific knowledge about environmental problems but inadequate practical solutions. Booth proposes that we must critically and self-reflexively revise how we perceive and consider ourselves within the more-than-human world as a matter of praxis to arrest our destructive impact on it.

The book brings ecophenomenology, which focuses on the relationship between humans and the environment, into dialogue with other philosophical approaches such as ecofeminism, new materialism, speculative realism, and object-oriented ontology. By integrating these diverse perspectives, Booth outlines and justifies why and how a specifically ecophenomenological praxis can lead to the disruption of the environmental crisis at its root.

One of the key insights of the book is that the environmental crisis is not just about the material causes of the crisis but also about our psychological and cultural attitudes towards the environment. Booth argues that we tend to reduce more-than-human entities to "natural resources," which obscures their inherent value and complexity. Instead, he calls for us to habitually resist our impetus to uncritically reduce these entities to "natural resources."

This shift requires us to develop a deeper understanding of the environment and our place within it. It means recognizing that we are not separate from the natural world but are part of a larger interconnected system. It also means acknowledging the role of non-human animals, plants, and ecosystems in maintaining the balance of the planet.

In conclusion, the environmental crisis is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach. While scientific knowledge is crucial, it is not enough to mitigate the crisis. We need to undergo a profound philosophical revision of our relationship with the world around us and develop a more holistic and ethical perspective on the environment. By recognizing the more-than-human world and developing a praxis that respects and values it, we can work towards arresting the environmental crisis and creating a more sustainable and just world for all.

Weight: 556g
Dimension: 159 x 237 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780821424568