Copenhagen biosemiotics presentation "A biosemiotic perspective on the human condition & the environmental crisis" available online in PDF format

My presentation "A biosemiotic perspective on the human condition & the environmental crisis" from the 23rd Gathering in biosemiotics, held in Copenhagen, Denmark in August earlier this year, has been made available in PDF format online, along with other conference presentations.

"A biosemiotic perspective on the human condition & the environmental crisis" presented in Copenhagen

Today I have presented my paper «A biosemiotic perspective on the human condition & the environmental crisis» at the 23rd Gathering in biosemiotics, which is held in Copenhagen, Denmark (July 31st - August 4th). Some 50-60 people attended.

Photo: Katarzyna Machtyl

Presentation scheduled for 23rd Gathering in Biosemiotics (Copenhagen)

My presentation «A biosemiotic perspective on the human condition and the environmental crisis» has been scheduled for presentation at the 2023 Gatherings in Biosemiotics 23, which is to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, at University of Copenhagen’s Social Sciences Faculty Library July 31st–August 4th, at Wednesday August 2nd at 16.30-17.00.

«A biosemiotic perspective on the human condition and the environmental crisis» to be presented at 23rd Gathering in Biosemiotics, Copenhagen

I have been notified that my paper «A biosemiotic perspective on the human condition and the environmental crisis» has been accepted for oral presentation at the 23rd Gathering in Biosemiotics, which is to be held in Copenhagen July 31st – August 4th.

Abstract for 23rd Gathering in Biosemiotics: "A biosemiotic perspective on the human condition and the environmental crisis"

I have submitted the abstract below to the organizers of the 23rd gathering in Biosemiotics, which is to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, July 31st - August 4th. 

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A biosemiotic perspective on the human condition and the environmental crisis   

Morten Tønnessen

Professor of philosophy, University of Stavanger, Norway   

ABSTRACT 

In this presentation I will present the book chapter “A biosemiotic perspective on the human condition and the environmental crisis” (Tønnessen, forthcoming). The chapter presents a biosemiotic perspective on the basic situation for human beings and that of other organisms, with an emphasis on the subjective experience of sentient animals, and the sign use of all lifeforms. The human condition is portrayed as traditionally conceived, and then revisited in the new context of the current environmental crisis. In recent decades, the expression ‘The Human Condition’ has been strongly associated with the political philosopher Hannah Arendt (1906–1975). In her book with the same name (Arendt 1958), she stresses that “[t]he earth is the very quintessence of the human condition”, and yet argues that “the “human artifice of the world separates human existence from all mere animal environment”. In this sense, in her view, human reality is distinguished from the reality of any other living being on Earth, despite our shared ecological circumstances. A cornerstone of the chapter is an analysis of the materiality of the environmental crisis, and how the massive changes humans have caused in the physical environment can be understood in light of the semiotic agency of humans and other living beings. Experiential aspects of the environmental crisis are highlighted. The aim of the chapter is to improve our understanding of our species´ place in the natural world, our historical role in causing a global crisis for life, and how we can move forward towards a more sustainable future. As Masatake Shinohara (2020) has proposed, “what conditions human beings in the most fundamental sense includes not only the world of the human artifact but also the world of earthly things”, and in light of this, “the consideration of the human condition should be fundamentally reformulated” by making the human world “open to the earthly things that vastly expand outside of the human artifice”.

REFERENCES 

Arendt, Hannah (1958). The Human Condition. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. 

Shinohara, Masatake (2020). “Rethinking the Human Condition in the Ecological Collapse”. The New Centennial Review 20(2): 177–203. 

Tønnessen, Morten, forthcoming. A biosemiotic perspective on the human condition and the environmental crisis. In Lenart Škof, Sashinungla, Sigridur Thorgeirsdottir (eds.), Elemental-Embodied Thinking for a New Era (Sophia Studies in Cross-cultural Philosophy of Traditions and Cultures). Springer.

23rd Gathering in Biosemiotics to be held in Copenhagen July 31st to August 4th

The dates for the 23rd Gathering in Biosemiotics, to be held at University of Copenhagen, Denmark, have now been set to July 31st - August 4th. Abstracts are due March 20th - see the conference webpage which includes a Call for papers.

Steffens conference in Copenhagen postponed until 2021

I have been informed that the conference «“…just as alluring as instructive…” – Henrik Steffens’ Concept of Nature in Science, Humanities and Arts around 1800», to be held at University of Copenhagen, has been postponed from October this year to October 2021 (specifically october 7-8th). I am an invited speaker for the event.

Abstract for Steffens conference: "Steffens´ ideas about organic meteorology: From the Totalorganismus to planetary health?"

I have today composed the abstract below for my invited lecture at a conference about Henrik Steffens which is (hopefully) to be held at University of Copenhagen October 1-2nd, "“…just as alluring as instructive…” – Henrik Steffens’ Concept of Nature in Science, Humanities and Arts around 1800".

Steffens´ ideas about organic meteorology: From the Totalorganismus to planetary health?  

Morten Tønnessen Professor of philosophy, Department of social studies, University of Stavanger  

As Linda Richter (2019) has recently investigated, in a report to the Prussian state in 1811, Henrik Steffens made the argument that the atmosphere is a living being, and that adopting this perspective could lead to advances in medicine and our understanding of diseases in humans and animals. The context of the commissioned report was the idea – which was widely held at the time – that many diseases were caused or affected by the climate or weather. In another recent article based on her Ph.D., Richter (2020) distinguishes between Semiotics, Physics, and Organics of the weather as three distinct forms of meteorological knowledge in the period 1750–1850 in German-speaking countries, and presents Steffens as a prominent representative of the Organics perspective.  

I will approach Richter´s two articles and Steffens 1811 report from four different angles. First, I will look into in what ways Steffens´ proposal for an organic perspective on meteorology highlights key aspects of his nature view more broadly. This will include reflecting on possible interpretations of his notion of a “grand organism” (Totalorganismus) in the context of ecology. Second, I will discuss how Steffens´ perspective on organic meteorology fares in comparison with the Gaia theory of James Lovelock. Third, I will discuss whether Steffens´ idea that human and animal health and the weather mirror each other has any resemblance with how we think about human ecology and anthropogenic climate change today. Lastly, I will discuss how Steffens´ perspective connects with contemporary (w)holistic notions such as `One health´, `One Welfare´, and `Planetary health´.

Some writing at writing trip´s last day

At the last day of this writing trip to Copenhagen, Denmark, where I have stayed at Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel for 98% of the time, I have made edits to "Socialization of captive wolves improves animal welfare and expands behavioral repertoire", which I co-write with Laura Kiiroja, and finished my article "Human development, inequality and social risks in Latin America and the Nordic countries".

And now I am off to Christmas vacation, in a few hours.

Writing trip to Copenhagen

This morning I flew to Copenhagen for a writing trip. However, unfortunately, I also have other tasks I need to get done before Christmas.

Writing trip to Copenhagen planned

I have made plans for a writing trip to Copenhagen December 20-23rd. I will likely focus on revising "The epistemology of biosemiotics".

ISBS General Assembly attended; Kalevi Kull new President of biosemiotic society

On July 2nd, in Copenhagen (during the 15th gathering in biosemiotics), I attended the General Assembly of the International Society for Biosemiotic Studies (ISBS). At the meeting, Jesper Hoffmeyer stepped down as President of the ISBS, and Kalevi Kull was elected new President, the society´s second.

Editorial board meeting of Biosemiotics in Copenhagen attended

Yesterday I attended the annual editorial board meeting of the academic journal Biosemiotics, which took place during the 15th Gathering in Biosemiotics (Copenhagen June 30 - July 4) and was chaired by Alexei Sharov. Some 20-30 people were present. 

"The ontogeny of precocial vs. altricial Umwelten" scheduled for presentation July 1st

Some time back I was notified that my paper "The ontogeny of precocial vs. altricial Umwelten" had been scheduled for presentation at the 15th Gathering in Biosemiotics (Copenhagen June 30th - July 4th 2015) on July 1st at 3-3.30 pm. See full program.

"The ontogeny of precocial vs. altricial Umwelten" presented at GiB15

Yesterday I presented my paper "The ontogeny of precocial vs. altricial Umwelten" at the 15th Gathering in Biosemiotics (Copenhagen June 30th - July 4th 2015). Some 30-40 people were present. For the first time ever, I was alone with my son when presenting - which meant I had to hold him for the duration of the presentation.

Gatherings in Biosemiotics 15: "The ontogeny of precocial vs. altricial Umwelten" accepted

Some time back I was notified that the Scientific Advisory Committee of the 15th international Gathering in Biosemiotics (Copenhagen, June 30 - July 4) has accepted my paper “The ontogeny of precocial vs. altricial Umwelten” for oral presentation.

15th Gathering in Biosemiotics: Extended deadline March 15th

The abstract deadline for the 15th International Gathering in Biosemiotics (Aalborg University, Denmark, 30 June - 4 July) has been extended to March 15th.

Abstract for Gathering in biosemiotics 15: "The ontogeny of precocial vs. altricial Umwelten"

Yesterday around Midnight I composed the abstract below and submitted it to the 15th international Gathering in Biosemiotics (Copenhagen, 30 June - 4 July 2015).

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The ontogeny of precocial vs. altricial Umwelten

Morten Tønnessen, University of Stavanger

The model organism in Uexküll’s Umwelt theory (Uexküll 2010 etc.) is an adult organism. In the case of embryos, fetuses and, in many species, neonates and young specimen, his dictum that an animal’s Umwelt only consists of those questions that the animal can answer does not apply. As Magnus (2011: 41) observes, Uexküll distinguishes between the time of becoming and the time of being, where “[t]he time of becoming equals the time needed for developing functioning organs; the time of being on the other hand covers the time when the organs have acquired their final form and as such are ready for use.”

The human species is not the only species that is not born ‘ready-made’. Whereas individuals of precocial species are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching, and thus quite independent from the outset, individuals of altricial species, whether mammals or birds, are relatively helpless as newborn/newly hatched, and require adult care. As Starck and Ricklefs (1998: 23) write, many insectivores, all rabbits, many rodents and most carnivores

give birth to small neonates that have closed eyes and ears, and no hair, are generally poorly developed, and are dependent on maternal care for a long lactation period. Newborn marsupials and monotremes are extremes, resembling early embryos, even compared to other altricial mammals. Precocial neonates are found among the ungulates […] and several rodent taxa.

Given the noticeable, axiomatic correspondence between physiology and Umwelt, the Umwelten of altricial species are at the beginning of life radically different from the Umwelten of precocial species. Briefly put, whereas precocial Umwelten are largely functional from the outset (and can thus be studied in isolation, as it were), altricial Umwelten become fully functional only gradually (and must therefore be studied in conjunction with the Umwelten of other individuals on which they depend).

In the course of this presentation I will also offer a brief overview of the ontogeny of the embryonic, foetal and infant human Umwelt (Tønnessen 2014). Fundamental questions that will be addressed include: At what point does the human Umwelt emerge? What Umwelt transitions can be identified in the ontogenesis of the early human Umwelt? What is characteristic of the Umwelt trajectory of human embryos/foetuses/infants? And, how are Umwelt objects established/crystallized/fixated in the human Umwelt?

Acknowledgement: This work has been supported by the research project “Animals in Changing Environments: Cultural Mediation and Semiotic Analysis” (EEA Norway Grants/Norway Financial Mechanism 2009–2014 under project contract no. EMP151).

References

Magnus, Riin 2011. Time-plans of the organisms: Jakob von Uexküll’s explorations into the temporal constitution of living beings. Sign Systems Studies 39(2/4): 37–57.

Starck, J. Matthias; Ricklefs, Robert E. 1998. Patterns of development: The altricial–precocial spectrum. In: Starck, J. Matthias; Ricklefs, Robert E. (eds.), Avian Growth and Development: Evolution within the Altricial-Precocial Spectrum. New York: Oxford University Press, 3–30.

Tønnessen, Morten 2014. The ontogeny of the embryonic, foetal and infant human umwelt. Sign Systems Studies 42 (2/3) (Special Issue “Sign evolution on multiple time scales” guest-edited by Kristian Tylén and Luis Emilio Bruni): 281–307.
Uexküll, Jakob von 2010. A Foray into the Worlds of Animals and Humans with a Theory of Meaning [orig. Uexküll 1956 [1934/1940]; O’Neil Joseph, trans.] Minneapolis: University of Minneapolis Press.

CFP and conference website for 15th gathering in biosemiotics

The call for papers for the 15th Gathering in Biosemiotics, which is to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, June 30th to July 4th 2015, has appeared - see here. Deadline for abstract submission is February 20th 2015. See also the conference webpage.

15th Gathering in biosemiotics to be held in Copenhagen

On the annual meeting of the International Society for Biosemiotic Studies (ISBS) in London July 3rd it was officially decided that the 15th International Gathering in Biosemiotics will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark (Aalborg University - Copenhagen campus). Luis Emilio Bruni will convene the gathering, which will be arranged approximately June 29th to July 3rd 2015.