Philosophy as Orientation

In his latest book, Emilio Corriero boldly contends that the environmental crisis is a philosophical issue. In doing so, he outlines the theoretical contradictions that must first be overcome to effectively resolve the difficulties on a practical level. Once human beings realise that they are a natural force capable of annihilating themselves and other species, it becomes necessary to rethink human actions in terms of cooperation with the other entities of this natural world to which human beings belong, including through their actions and thoughts. Unlike other human activities, philosophy is capable of taking the right distance and orienting creativity, ultimately assigning a new meaning to the earth. Philosophy as Orientation draws on Anglophone philosophical traditions and philosophers, including Dewey, Rorty, Wittgenstein, Williams, Cavell and Putnam. It puts these traditions and thinkers into a generative dialogue with continental philosophers, in particular Schelling and Nietzsche, providing a novel framework for understanding the ecological crisis. Translated by Vanessa Di Stefano, this book is essential reading for not only philosophers but also students and scholars in environmental humanities and science.