The technosphere, our agency, our planet
What can we do, what should we do?
In his classic work “The Nature of Thermodynamics” (1943), P. W. Bridgman described thermodynamics as a branch of physics that carries a distinct human element. His operational approach to the philosophy of science emphasises grounding physical theories in human activities, such as controlled experiments conducted by scientists. Classical thermodynamics highlights this aspect by focusing on …
Continue reading "Towards a Pragmatist Thermodynamics of Technosphere Evolution"
The newspaper The Economist recently published an interesting article summarising current debates and visions regarding the impact of AI on economic growth. One school of thought, popular among the titans of Silicon Valley, suggests that AI ushers in an era of explosive growth. This perspective is rooted in the Western conviction, maintained since the Enlightenment, …
Continue reading "On the thermodynamic limits to AI-powered economic growth"
This post has been published on the COEVOLVERS website and is co-authored by Simo Sarkki. Nature-based Solutions (NBS) promise numerous social, environmental, and economic benefits inspired and supported by nature. However, as the literature on NBS has evolved, more critical perspectives have emerged, emphasizing that naive assumptions about universal co-benefits must be abandoned. Nonetheless, the …
Francis Fukuyama’s book “The End of History and the Last Man” is often naively viewed as a premature celebration of the historical victory of liberal democracy and capitalism over all alternative forms of political organisation in large-scale, globally connected societies. However, this interpretation reflects a serious misunderstanding of Fukuyama’s erudite work on global history. He …
Continue reading "Beyond the end of human history: Towards the Confucian Anthropocene?"
In the April 4, 2025 issue of “The Economist,” columnist "Free Exchange" provides a brief account of and reflection on a place that can be considered a “Degrowth Lab.” This is the Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi, where approximately 52000 people have lived since 1994. The population is steadily increasing, with around 300 new residents …
During the height of critical theory in the 1960s, political aesthetics garnered significant attention. A key concept was earlier articulated in Ernst Bloch’s exploration of utopia, namely that the arts serve as a space for examining objective possibilities, thereby inspiring political action in the real world. Even earlier, these ideas were also expanded upon in …
Continue reading "Friedrich Schiller’s theory of aesthetic education and more-than-human play"
In sustainability sciences, the concept of "care" has become fundamental. This notion, which originated in ecofeminism, is understood as an ethical commitment to nurturing our planet and its living beings. It involves assuming responsibility and embracing a broad perspective that takes into account the concerns and vulnerabilities of other beings, as well as their material …
Most people evaluate the performance of the Trump presidency based on his personality. When attempting to categorize it politically, the term "fascism" is often mentioned, as exemplified by the memorable comments from Retired General Mark A. Milley. While Trump's ruthlessness and disregard for the separation of powers seem to support this characterization, there are significant …
Continue reading "Beyond Neoliberalism: Trump’s Era and the Rise of Capitalist Fundamentalism"
Although Earth system sciences have embraced the term "technosphere" to conceptualize planetary processes, its use is not universal, and there are many sceptics. One might ask, "Does the technosphere actually exist?" There is a more cautious interpretation of the term, viewing it merely as a concept that serves specific modelling purposes without making any realistic …
In his insightful book "Gaïa: Terre Vivante," Sébastien Detreuil highlights on page 412 that Paul Crutzen introduced the concept of the Anthropocene precisely when he rejected the idea of Gaia as a framework for addressing the challenges of climate change within Earth System sciences (though this is a coincidence, and not expressed explicitly). There are …
The technosphere, our agency, our planet 
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