The ecological crisis is foremost a crisis in our ways of thinking. Join digital ecologist Attila Márton in his conversations with thought leaders, as he attempts to learn about how we have to change our philosophies to develop an ecologic style of thinking ready for the 21st century.
The ecological crisis is foremost a crisis in our ways of thinking. Join digital ecologist Attila Márton in his conversations with thought leaders, as he attempts to learn about how we have to change our philosophies to develop an ecologic style of thinking ready for the 21st century.
We often think of ecology as something related to planetary nature. What if it’s about the entire universe?
In this episode, we talk with Thomas Nail, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Denver, who introduces us to the idea of cosmic ecology. At the center is the notion of entropy as the natural tendency of energy to dissipate across the cosmos.
Thomas challenges the common view that entropy is something to fight against. Instead, he suggests that we’re already part of this process and that we forgot how to move with it. This episode opens up a new way of thinking about ecology that connects us not just to the planet, but to the flow of the universe itself.
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Reading recommendation: Nail T. (2021) Theory of the Earth. Stanford University Press.
References:
recorded 5th December 2023
Editing and Post-Production by Emil Munk
Hosted by Attila Márton
Original Music by Ariel Bialksi
Recording by Jakob Ranum
Produced by Attila Márton and Emil Munk
This episode was financially supported by the Copenhagen Business School
What is the difference between thinking ecologically and thinking about ecology? In this episode, we speak with Nora Bateson, systems thinker, ecological philosopher, writer, and filmmaker, whose work has been highly influential for this podcast.
Nora carries forward a remarkable intellectual legacy. Her father, Gregory Bateson, was a pioneering anthropologist and ecological thinker, and her grandfather, William Bateson, coined the term genetics. The phrase ecology of ideas, which gives this podcast its name, comes directly from her father's work.
Nora invites us to see the world not as isolated issues, but as interconnected patterns within living systems. Through this lens, we begin to understand that ecological awareness is not just about the environment but about how we relate with those interconnected patterns.
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Reading recommendation: Bateson N. (2023) Combining. Triarchy Press.
References:
recorded 11th December 2023
Editing and Post-Production by Emil Munk
Hosted by Attila Márton
Original Music by Ariel Bialksi
Recording by Jakob Ranum
Produced by Attila Márton and Emil Munk
This episode was financially supported by the Copenhagen Business School
If you had to choose between being rich or being well, chances are you'd choose your own well-being. And yet, we live in a world shaped by an economic system that prioritizes wealth over wellness.
In this episode, we’re joined by Inge Røpke, professor of ecological economics at Aalborg University in Denmark. Inge invites us to reflect on the limits of conventional economic thinking, and how it shapes the way we understand value and progress. She makes the case for placing justice and ecological awareness at the heart of a more thoughtful and inclusive approach to economics that encourages us to look beyond numbers and toward the kind of society we actually want to live in.
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Reading recommendation: Martínez-Alier J. and Røpke I. (eds.) (2008) Recent Developments in Ecological Economics. Edward Elgar Publishing.
References:
recorded 27th June 2022
Recording, Editing and Post-Production by Emil Munk
Hosted by Attila Márton
Original Music by Ariel Bialksi
Produced by Attila Márton and Emil Munk
This episode was financially supported by the Copenhagen Business School
None of us would say we want war, poverty, or environmental collapse. And yet, these crises continue to unfold around us. Why is it so hard to collaborate and prevent the very things we all oppose?
In this episode, we’re joined by Maja Göpel, German political economist and transformation researcher, to explore this question. According to Maja, the problem lies in the deep structures of our institutions, which are still shaped by a logic of extraction and a culture of incrementalism. These frameworks limit our ability to respond meaningfully to systemic challenges like climate change.
Maja invites us to imagine new ways of organizing society that break free from small, cautious steps and instead embrace bold, collective transformation rooted in an ecological mindset.
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Reading recommendation: Göpel M. (2023) Rethinking Our World: An Invitation to Rescue Our Future. Scribe Publications.
References:
recorded 8th December 2023
Editing and Post-Production by Emil Munk
Hosted by Attila Márton
Original Music by Ariel Bialksi
Recording by Jakob Ranum
Produced by Attila Márton and Emil Munk
This episode was financially supported by the Copenhagen Business School
Facing the ecological crisis can feel overwhelming, often leading to despair or the belief that individual action is pointless. In this episode, we speak with Alexis Shotwell, professor of sociology and anthropology at Carleton University in Canada, who challenges this mindset.
Alexis introduces the concept of purity politics - the idea that only those who meet certain moral or ideological standards are allowed to participate in collective action. This belief, she argues, can stifle our political impulses and prevent meaningful collaboration.
Together, we explore how to move beyond purity politics, reconnect with collective action, and find hope in the face of ecological challenges.
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Reading recommendation: Shotwell A. (2016) Against Purity: Living Ethically in Compromised Times. University of Minnesota Press.
References:
recorded 6th December 2023
Editing and Post-Production by Emil Munk
Hosted by Attila Márton
Original Music by Ariel Bialksi
Recording by Jakob Ranum
Produced by Attila Márton and Emil Munk
This episode was financially supported by the Copenhagen Business School