How Do Utopian Visions Shape Our Reality & Future? - Highlights - S. D. CHROSTOWSKA

How Do Utopian Visions Shape Our Reality & Future? - Highlights - S. D. CHROSTOWSKA

Author: Mia Funk July 25, 2024 Duration: 20:46

“I think that we should not be under any illusion that we can return to some pristine Earth. We have to do the best we can with the Earth that we have inherited for our generation and for those of our children, but we should not, therefore, say, well, it's all lost. Species are becoming extinct as never before. We should not become pessimists because there is no other alternative, because we've been robbed of this idea of pristine nature.
I think nature has not been pristine. People speak about the Anthropocene. I don't quite like this term, but the idea that humans have been transforming nature and have been altering it, adulterating it, something to put into perspective regarding this nostalgia for pristine nature. And utopianism actually goes hand in hand with nostalgia. I mentioned the myth of the Golden Age. This was something that used to exist, the Golden Age or paradise, an idea of pure nature in harmony with human beings. These nostalgic imaginaries that feed into and can reactivate utopian thinking in our day. We should by no means let go of an idea of pristine nature. And I also don't think, just to return to this idea of species extinction. I don't think that the de-extinction efforts are particularly utopian, even though they may seem this way. How do we compensate for the material loss of biodiversity? I think no amount of technological ingenuity will actually fulfill this desire for a return to the pristine nature that we have lost.”

S. D. Chrostowska is professor of humanities at York University, Canada. She is the author of several books, among them Permission, The Eyelid, A Cage for Every Child, and, most recently, Utopia in the Age of Survival: Between Myth and Politics. Her essays have appeared in such venues as Public Culture, Telos, Boundary 2, and The Hedgehog Review. She also coedits the French surrealist review Alcheringa and is curator of the 19th International Exhibition of Surrealism, Marvellous Utopia, which runs from July to September 2024 in Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, France.

https://profiles.laps.yorku.ca/profiles/sylwiac/

www.sup.org/books/title/?id=33445
https://chbooks.com/Books/T/The-Eyelid
https://ciscm.fr/en/merveilleuse-utopie

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Hosted by Mia Funk, One Planet Podcast engages with the defining ecological challenges of our time. This isn't about abstract science; it's about the interconnected systems of politics, energy, and economics that shape our relationship with the natural world. Conversations move from the granular details of regenerative agriculture and the circular economy to the global stakes of biodiversity loss and the race to net-zero. You'll hear from a vital range of voices, from organizers with groups like Greenpeace and 350.org to philosophers like Peter Singer, and representatives from institutions like the European Environment Agency and UNESCO. Each episode unpacks a different facet of the crisis-whether it's carbon footprints, wildlife extinction, or renewable energy transitions-focusing on actionable ideas and the human stories behind the headlines. The goal is to illuminate the tangible pathways forward, offering listeners a deeper, more nuanced understanding of how to engage with the planet's most pressing issues. Tune in for thoughtful, in-depth dialogues that go beyond the soundbites, exploring how we can collectively forge a more sustainable and just future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Sustainability, Climate Change, Renewable Energy, Politics, Activism, Biodiversity, Carbon Footprint, Wildlife, Regenerative Agriculture, Circular Economy, Extinction, Net-Zero · One Planet Podcast
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