Environmental philosophy in Asia: Between eco-orientalism and ecological nationalisms

Laÿna Droz, Martin F Fricke, Nakul Heroor, Romaric Jannel, Orika Komatsubara, Concordia Marie A Lagasca-Hiloma, Paul Mart Jeyand J Matangcas and Hesron H Sihombing
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Laÿna Droz: The Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, 34811The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo City, Tokyo, Japan
Martin F Fricke: Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Mérida, 7180Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
Nakul Heroor: 197678Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munchen, Bayern, Germany
Romaric Jannel: Institute for Research in Humanities, 12918Kyoto University, and Collège international de philosophie, Kyoto, Japan
Orika Komatsubara: Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Concordia Marie A Lagasca-Hiloma: School of Arts and Sciences, 608616Isabela State University-Cauayan, Cauayan City, Isabela, Philippines
Paul Mart Jeyand J Matangcas: Faculty of Information and Communication Studies, 54732University of the Philippines Open University, Laguna, Calabarzon, Philippines
Hesron H Sihombing: 2927University of Denver/Iliff School of Theology, Denver, Colorado, USA

Environmental Values, 2025, vol. 34, issue 1, 84-108

Abstract: Environmental philosophy – broadly conceived as using philosophical tools to develop ideas related to environmental issues – is conducted and practised in highly diverse ways in different contexts and traditions in Asia. ‘Asian environmental philosophy’ can be understood to include Asian traditions of thought as well as grassroots perspectives on environmental issues in Asia. Environmental issues have sensitive political facets tied to who has the legitimacy to decide about how natural resources are used. Because of this, the works, practices, and researchers in Asian environmental philosophy are exposed to being (mis)used by diverse stakeholders and actors to support political ends not related to environmental sustainability. Two processes are at play at the nexus of the construction of identities in relation to conceptualisations of nature: eco-orientalism and ecological nationalisms. This paper analyzes and exemplifies these dynamics through a conceptual framework that distinguishes ideological and socio-technical explanations of environmental degradation. Finally, to minimise the risks of political misuse, five pathways are presented to carefully help curate environmental, philosophical statements: contextualise, quantify uncertainty and ‘uniqueness’, downscale, confront claims with local realities and literature, and collaborate with researchers from other disciplines. Conjointly, these pathways aim at favouring intercultural collaboration while valuing diversity, thus supporting the development and exchanges in environmental philosophy in Asia and beyond.

Keywords: Environmental philosophy; eco-orientalism; orientalism; exoticism; ecological nationalism; Asian philosophy; eco-dogmatism; nationalism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:envval:v:34:y:2025:i:1:p:84-108

DOI: 10.1177/09632719241276999

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