PHYSIS

Abstract

Threatening the whole of nature, the climate crisis puts us on the verge of self-destruction. But what can philosophy contribute to considering this problem? It can take up the task of thinking nature as physis, as growing and decaying on its own. It can seek to uncover how this traditional understanding of nature implies a certain privileged metaphysics of presence and absence – and how it must be suspended, if we are to consider nature’s way of being as implying. It can illuminate the implications this suspension has for nature, and for us – especially insofar as we are implicated in its destruction and our own. Then, stepping back from self-destruction, philosophy can attempt to pick up on that which nature implies, take up what is being suggested by nature – and by being, especially insofar as it is implied – and so, clue into nature’s nature, most powerful of all and most excellent.