After Lockdown

1. The COVID-19 lockdown as a metaphor for our confinement to Earth

Locked-down, sure, but only for a few weeks; not for ever, that would be too horrible. Who wants to end up like Gregor Samsa, wasted away in a cupboard, to his parents' great relief?

A wake-up call. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns served as a stark reminder of our inherent connection to and dependence on Earth. This experience forced us to confront the reality that we cannot escape our planet, much like Gregor Samsa in Kafka's "Metamorphosis" couldn't escape his new insect form.

Shifting perspectives. The lockdown experience compelled us to reevaluate our relationship with our immediate environment and the broader world. It highlighted the interconnectedness of all living beings and the fragility of our ecological systems. This realization challenges us to think beyond our individual needs and consider our collective responsibility towards the planet.

A new normal. As we emerge from lockdowns, we must recognize that returning to our pre-pandemic way of life is neither possible nor desirable. Instead, we must embrace a new understanding of our place in the world, one that acknowledges our dependence on and responsibility to the Earth's ecosystems.

2. Redefining our relationship with the world: From "inert objects" to living entities

We terrestrials never find ourselves facing a landscape anymore. In describing your interdependencies, for the others and through the others, it's as if the ground rose up under your feet and knocked you over.

A paradigm shift. We must move away from seeing the world as a collection of inert objects to be exploited and instead recognize it as a complex network of living, interdependent entities. This shift in perspective changes how we interact with our environment and make decisions about resource use and conservation.

Interconnected systems. Understanding the world as a network of living entities reveals the intricate connections between all aspects of our environment. This includes:

• The relationship between soil health and food production
• The impact of deforestation on climate patterns
• The role of microorganisms in maintaining ecosystem balance

Ethical implications. Recognizing the agency and interconnectedness of all living entities challenges us to reconsider our ethical responsibilities. It demands a more holistic approach to environmental stewardship and calls for policies that respect the intrinsic value of all life forms, not just human interests.

3. The emergence of a new political landscape: Extractors vs. Menders

What makes all the current battles so very strange is that we really are at war, and it's a war to the death, a war of eradication; a war that I, nonetheless, feel incapable of organising into camps, into two camps, imagining the victory of one over the other.

A new dichotomy. The traditional left-right political spectrum is being replaced by a new division between "Extractors" (those who continue to exploit Earth's resources without regard for consequences) and "Menders" (those who seek to repair and maintain Earth's systems).

Complex alliances. This new political landscape doesn't align neatly with traditional party lines. It creates unexpected alliances and conflicts, as individuals and groups must reassess their priorities and allegiances based on their stance towards Earth's systems.

Redefining progress. The Extractor-Mender dichotomy challenges our notion of progress. It forces us to question whether economic growth at the expense of ecological health is truly beneficial and encourages us to find new metrics for societal advancement that incorporate environmental sustainability.

4. Rethinking borders and sovereignty in the age of global environmental challenges

Earth exercises an authority that thwarts, disrupts, contests the modes of sovereignty of the nation-states that organised the carving up of land in the modern era.

Beyond national boundaries. Environmental issues like climate change and biodiversity loss don't respect national borders. This reality challenges the traditional concept of state sovereignty and calls for new forms of global cooperation and governance.

Redefined territories. We must reimagine territories not as fixed geographical areas but as dynamic networks of interdependencies. This includes:

• Watersheds that cross national boundaries
• Migratory patterns of animals
• Global air and ocean currents

New forms of citizenship. As we recognize our dependence on global ecological systems, we must develop new forms of "ecological citizenship" that acknowledge our responsibilities to the planet as a whole, not just to our nation-state.

5. The body as a holobiont: Redefining our understanding of self

The lived body, the body of living beings, and thereby the body of mortals, now designates the very materiality of what I am. This is true of my interior as of my exterior, of the old 'subjective' body as of the old 'objective' body.

Interconnected beings. Understanding our bodies as "holobionts" - complex ecosystems of human and non-human cells - challenges our notion of individual identity and autonomy. It reveals our deep connection to and dependence on other life forms, from gut bacteria to environmental microbes.

Health redefined. This holobiont perspective transforms our approach to health and medicine:

• Recognizing the importance of maintaining diverse microbiomes
• Understanding diseases as ecological imbalances rather than external invaders
• Emphasizing preventive care and environmental health

Philosophical implications. The holobiont concept blurs the lines between self and other, individual and environment. It calls for a more relational understanding of existence and challenges individualistic philosophies that have dominated Western thought.

6. From progress to envelopment: A new paradigm for human development

Curiously, in its way of proceeding from case to case, the law most closely resembles these forms of progressive and fragile universalisation. What, Earth's Law, the law of Gaia, the proper noun?

Redefining growth. Instead of linear progress and unlimited growth, we must embrace a model of "envelopment" - development that occurs within the limits and rhythms of Earth's systems. This paradigm shift requires us to:

• Prioritize circular economies and regenerative practices
• Measure success by ecological health rather than GDP
• Develop technologies that enhance rather than exploit natural processes

Adaptive strategies. Envelopment encourages us to adopt more flexible and responsive approaches to development. It emphasizes adaptation to local conditions and the importance of diversity in building resilient systems.

Legal and ethical frameworks. This new paradigm calls for the development of legal and ethical frameworks that recognize the rights of nature and future generations. It challenges us to extend our concept of justice beyond human society to encompass all of Earth's systems.

7. The return to Earth: Embracing our role as terrestrials

Terrestrials would be welcome to label as 'ecology' not a domain, fresh focus on 'green stuff', but simply what the Economy turns into when its description restarts.

A new identity. Embracing our role as "terrestrials" means recognizing our fundamental connection to and dependence on Earth's systems. This identity transcends national, ethnic, or cultural boundaries and unites us in our shared responsibility for the planet.

Practical implications. Living as terrestrials requires us to:

• Prioritize ecological considerations in all decision-making
• Develop a deeper understanding of local and global ecosystems
• Cultivate a sense of belonging to Earth rather than just to human society

Cultural shift. This new terrestrial identity calls for a transformation in our cultural values and narratives. It challenges us to move beyond anthropocentric worldviews and to find meaning and purpose in our role as part of Earth's living systems.

8. Gaia as a new model for understanding Earth's systems

Earth, or Gaia, is already organising the political horizon while its scientific existence is unknown, scorned or denied and its metaphysical consequences remain invisible.

Holistic understanding. The Gaia hypothesis provides a framework for understanding Earth as a self-regulating, complex system. This perspective helps us grasp the interconnectedness of all Earth's processes and the potential consequences of human activities.

Scientific implications. Gaia theory challenges traditional scientific disciplines to:

• Develop more interdisciplinary approaches
• Consider long-term, systemic effects of human activities
• Recognize the agency and intelligence of non-human systems

Policy and governance. Adopting a Gaia perspective in policy-making would lead to more holistic and long-term approaches to environmental management, emphasizing the maintenance of Earth's self-regulating capacities rather than short-term human interests.

9. The challenge of creating new institutions for a terrestrial world

That gives an idea of the ubiquity and violence of the conflict between the Extractors and the Menders. In their indifference, the Extractors never cease bringing the overshoot date further forward in the year – if we let them have their way, we will have exhausted the whole year's resources before Candlemas.

Institutional transformation. Our current institutions, designed for a world of nation-states and unlimited growth, are ill-equipped to handle global ecological challenges. We need to develop new institutions that can:

• Address issues at multiple scales, from local to global
• Incorporate long-term ecological considerations into decision-making
• Facilitate cooperation across traditional boundaries

Participatory governance. New terrestrial institutions must involve a wider range of stakeholders, including representatives of non-human interests and future generations. This calls for innovative forms of democratic participation and decision-making.

Measuring progress. We need new metrics and indicators that can capture the health of Earth's systems and the sustainability of human activities. This includes developing alternatives to GDP that account for ecological impacts and well-being.

10. Rediscovering innovation and creativity within Earth's limits

Innovation and artifice are what makes the world go around. Injustice and crime stem from the carefree attitude that makes people feel they can ignore the limits but not learn how to turn them round, because that's something that bacteria, lichens, plants, trees, forests, ants, baboons, wolves and even Vinciane Despret's octopus friends have been able to do just as well.

Biomimicry and eco-design. Rather than seeing Earth's limits as constraints, we can view them as inspiration for innovation. This approach involves:

• Learning from natural systems to design more efficient and sustainable technologies
• Developing circular economy models that mimic ecological cycles
• Creating regenerative practices that enhance rather than deplete natural resources

Cultural creativity. Embracing our terrestrial identity can spark new forms of artistic and cultural expression. It challenges us to imagine new narratives, aesthetics, and ways of living that celebrate our connection to Earth.

Ethical innovation. As we redefine progress within Earth's limits, we must also innovate in our ethical frameworks. This includes developing new concepts of rights, responsibilities, and justice that encompass all of Earth's systems and future generations.

Last updated: August 21, 2024