ELENA CASETTA

University of Turin

Rethinking the natural/artificial distinction in the light of the contemporary framing of conservation biology

Séminaire Philbio 2018-2019: Philosophy of Biology and Medicine
Université Paris 1 Panthéon – Sorbonne, IHPST – Salle de conférence

Abstract: Traditionally, a categorical distinction is recognized between natural and artificial entities. In this contribution I shall argue that such a way to articulate the distinction is not adequately suited to the contemporary practices of nature conservation, and I will try to provide an account more in line with them. Focusing on a particular kind of objects that I suggest to name “environmental objects”, I propose the view of “Naturalness as independence”, according to which, the more or less an environmental object’s identity conditions and survival depend on human intervention, the more or less it is artificial or natural, respectively. I then will test the naturalness as independence view through three different case studies.

A l’intérieur du Séminaire de Philosophie de la Biologie organisé par Caroline Angleraux & par Sophia Rousseau-Mermans.
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