2017-18 Philosophy Department Colloquium Series presents guest lecturer Russell Duvernoy, Instructor of Philosophy at Seattle University. Duvernoy will give a talk titled “Becoming Ecological: Towards a Process Metaphysical Subjectivity.” This is the first in a series of four talks on Environmental Philosophy.
Abstract: Beginning from present ecological turbulence and dire climate change predictions, and
following Pope Francis’s call for “ecological conversion,” Duvernoy will explore conceptual changes
necessary for actualizing such conversions. He argues that viable ecological conversion requires
further investigation into metaphysical questions inherent in thinking ecologically and he will outline
three risks that a cogent conception of conversion must avoid. Duvernoy will then draw on the work
of Guattari, Stengers, Deleuze, and Whitehead to show that a process metaphysically inflected
conception of subjectivity is a more efficacious framework for ecological conversion, focusing on
how it encourages habits of attention productive of greater awareness of ecological complexity.
