The Vicissitudes of Nature - From Spinoza to Freud

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The relationship between humans and nature is central to today's existential threats, including climate change, environmental destruction, and pandemics. We face the urgent need for radical behavioral change to avert the destruction of countless species, including our own. Equally important is the necessity to rethink our understanding of nature and our place within it. In this significant work, Richard J. Bernstein asserts that a comprehensive conception of humans and nature must consider historical perspectives on nature. He examines key figures of modernity—Spinoza, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, and Freud—reconstructing their views on nature and the reasons behind their distinct perspectives. By navigating the contradictions among these thinkers, Bernstein identifies common themes that have influenced their approaches to the human-nature relationship. He provides a critical overview of the challenges each perspective presents, which must be addressed in contemporary discussions about nature. This exploration serves as a foundation for rethinking humanity's connection to nature, revealing valuable conceptual resources from the modern tradition to foster a deeper understanding of nature relevant to our time.