Traditional Ecological Knowledge and the Aesthetics of Nature

What is it about?

Western environmental aesthetics has largely overlooked non-scientific knowledge in the appreciation of nature. This article explores whether the inclusion of traditional ecological knowledge could enrich Western philosophical theorizing on the aesthetic appreciation of nature, with a focus on the environmental knowledge possessed by Sámi reindeer herders.

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Photo by Tania Malréchauffé on Unsplash

Photo by Tania Malréchauffé on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Traditional knowledge and practices are recognized as essential for understanding sustainable uses of natural resources and for developing enduring eco-social policies and cross-cultural conservation ethics. The topic is also socially and politically timely, as much aesthetic-based nature tourism is directed toward places on indigenous lands, where indigenous land management practices may have significantly shaped the environment.