The history and philosophy of biology have long been characterized by a bias towards the animal kingdom. Animal-centric philosophy of biology often overlook inconsistencies of concepts like behavior or individuality when applied on plants. Furthermore, studies in the history of biology often display a preference for animals, occasionally reducing the history of plant biology to mere botany, thus neglecting important contributions in plant physiology, morphology, and behavioral research. Recently, however, science and society have begun to seriously consider plants and their unique characteristics in both research and agriculture. This “vegetal turn” reflects a growing recognition among scholars in biology, history and philosophy of science, as well as in cultural studies, that plants should no longer be seen as passive and inert objects but as active, communicative, and agential subjects that shape their environment. In addition, new debates emerge around plant intelligence and the risks and benefits of anthropomorphizing plants. The vegetal turn also positions plants as vital in addressing global environmental issues, from climate change to food production. The workshop will discuss plants relevance for scientific and societal questions through historical, philosophical, and social lenses.
Participants:
Fabrizio Baldassarri (Harvard University), Quentin Hiernaux (Université Libre de Bruxelles), Katharine Legun (Wageningen University & Research), Sabina Leonelli (Technische Universität München), Kärin Nickelsen (Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München), Abigail Nieves Delgado (Utrecht University), Arnika Peselmann (Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg), Miguel Segundo-Ortin (Universidad de Murcia), Matthew Sims (Ruhr-Universität Bochum), Vassiliki Betty Smocovitis (University of Florida), Vera Straetmanns (Ruhr University Bochum), Frank Uekötter (Ruhr University Bochum), Hugh Williamson (Technische Universität München), Jan Baedke (Ruhr University Bochum)
Organization:
Vera Straetmanns & Jan Baedke
Location: Ruhr University Bochum and Zoom, 28th–29th November 2024
For more info, the programme, and (in person or online) registration: https://rotoworkshop2024.wixsite.com/flora