Hi everyone,

This week's speaker in the University of Sydney Philosophy Seminar Series is 
Ulrik Nissen, (Aarhus University, Denmark)

The title of the talk is “The Responsiveness of Nature. A Phenomenological 
Approach to the Responsibility for the “More-Than-Human-Nature””. Here is an 
abstract for the talk:

The concept of responsibility is inherently responsive and relational. It 
places us in a moral demand before the other, to whom we are morally obliged to 
respond. In responding to the other, we do so in two ways: firstly, through the 
act of 'living with' and 'being with' the other; and secondly, through a moral 
reflection on what we ought to do. This presentation argues that it is from the 
responsive encounter with the "more-than-human" other that the imperative of 
responsibility arises for the flourishing of the common good of all living 
beings. The following questions are therefore addressed: How can we listen to 
the more-than-human world and enable its participation? How can we interact? 
The approach will be phenomenological, with the argument being made that the 
"being with the other" is a pre-existing condition. Even before we are aware of 
it, we are immersed in the phenomenon of life. This phenomenon of life 
encompasses the "more-than-human" world and, as the presentation argues, also 
gives rise to a moral obligation. As human beings, we are bound to the 
"more-than-human" other, and thus called to listen to and respond with 
appropriate responsibility. The presentation falls in three parts. In the first 
part we turn to relatively recent philosophical approaches regarding the 
relation between responsiveness and responsibility. The second section turns to 
the Danish philosopher and theologian, K.E. Løgstrup, for his understanding of 
the senses in relation to the universe as he calls it. The third part returns 
to the question of responsiveness with the aim to argue for the link between 
responsiveness and responsibility and to argue that this entails a call for 
responsibility to the “more-than-human-nature”.

The seminar will take place at 3:30pm on Wednesday Oct 16 in the Philosophy 
Seminar Room (N494).

Enquiries about the seminar series can be directed to ryan....@sydney.edu.au

Ryan Cox
Associate Lecturer in Philosophy
Discipline of Philosophy
School of Humanities
University of Sydney

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