---------- Forwarded
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From:
Environmental
Studies Department <environmen...@ashoka.edu.in>
Date: Mon, Jan 31, 2022 at 7:04 PM
Subject: INVITATION: EVS Colloquium | The Alphabet of
Ecosophy: Rethinking Modernity | Aseem Shrivastava | 9
February 2022, 6:30 PM
To: Environmental Studies Department <
environmen...@ashoka.edu.in>
Dear all,
Please join us for
a Seminar on "The Alphabet of Ecosophy:
Rethinking Modernity" by Aseem
Shrivastava, Writer,
Teacher and Ecological Thinker, to be
held on Wednesday,
9 February 2022, 6:30-7:45 pm (IST).
Wednesday,
9 February 2022, 6:30-7:45 pm (IST)
The Alphabet of Ecosophy:
Rethinking Modernity
by
Aseem
Shrivastava
Writer, Teacher and
Ecological Thinker
Abstract: The
two prevailing frameworks in which the ecological
crisis of the earth is understood are
environmentalism and ecology. Environmentalism has
proved limited, often self-defeating, because of its
commitment to a technocratic approach. Ecology is
indequate because its approach is dominated by
science, even when supplemented by the environmental
humanities. Neither
perspective questions the reigning cosmology of
modernity which is at the cognitive and existential
root of the precipitous crisis. On the contrary,
their problems arise precisely from the fact that
they take it for granted. Ecosophy, defined loosely
by the Catalan-Keralite philosopher-theologian
Raimon Panikkar, as "the wisdom of the earth" does
offer a critical perspective on the cosmology of
modernity. His incisive critique of modernity will
be discussed. My talk will then introduce some of
the basic concepts that Ecosophy explores and builds
upon: transnature, species solipsism, homo
abstractus, earth alienation, and arrhythmia. In
passing, the related spiritual vision of
Rabindranath Tagore will also be referred to.
Bio: Aseem Shrivastava is a
writer, teacher and ecological thinker with a
doctorate in Economics from the University of
Massachusetts, Amherst. He currently teaches two
courses on Global and Indian Ecosophy at Ashoka
University. Aseem has taught at
universities in India and the US. He also taught
philosophy at Nordic College, Norway (2001-05).
He now works independently, researching, writing
and lecturing nationally and internationally on
issues associated with globalization and its
multiple ecological and other impacts. He is the
author (with Ashish Kothari) of the books
Churning the Earth: The Making of Global India
(Penguin Viking, New Delhi, 2012), and Prithvi
Manthan (Rajkamal Prakashan, New Delhi, 2016)
which offer critiques of, and alternatives to,
India’s development strategy since 1947. Besides mentoring and
guiding many students, Aseem writes regularly
for publications like The Hindu, Deccan Herald,
Economic and Political Weekly, Seminar, Himal,
Caravan, and Open magazine.
We look forward to
meeting all of you.
Yours
sincerely,
Department
of Environmental Studies
Ashoka
University
