Title: The relevance of Uexküll's Umwelt concept for the modern ecological discourse

Authors: Helena Knyazeva

Addresses: National Research University Higher School of Economics, 20 Myasnitskaya St., Moscow, 101000, Russian Federation

Abstract: The article substantiates the worldview significance of the Umwelt concept introduced by Jakob von Uexküll for the development of strategic imperatives of ecological thinking and of environmental policies. The study lies at the crossroads of four areas: ecological philosophy, ethics, complex systems theory, and futures studies. Modern futures studies are largely based on a complex system approach demonstrating the multiplicity of images of the future and possibilities of choosing co-evolutionary paths of man and nature that do not violate the natural balance. Exploring the intersection of these different disciplinary fields provides an interdisciplinary platform for demonstrating the relevancy of the Umwelt concept for the development of environmental theory, for elaborating a reasonable position in discussions on sustainable development and sustainable futures, as well as on the role of environmental policy to ensure sustainable development and education reform to inculcate the principles and strategies of ecological ethics (Umwelt ethics).

Keywords: eco-complexity; ecological philosophy; Jakob von Uexküll; multiple futures; multiverse; sustainable development; Umwelt; Umwelt ethics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2024.142218

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2024 Vol.23 No.2/3, pp.305 - 318

Received: 30 Apr 2023
Accepted: 09 Apr 2024
Published online: 14 Oct 2024 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article