Thematic Session "Philosophy and Biodiversity" at the World Biodiversity Forum 2022

This session will be part of the World Biodiversity Forum taking place from June 26 - July 1 2022 in Davos (Switzerland) as a hybrid event.

In this session we welcome contributions that discuss different questions concerning biodiversity conservation from the perspective of moral philosophy. Amongst other things, this includes theoretical analysis of a range of topics, such as:
• Analysis of the concept of biodiversity
• The philosophy of valuing biodiversity
• Moral reasons for protecting biodiversity
• Ethical analysis of different contexts, dimensions and concerns regarding biodiversity conservation (such as de-extinction, genetic resources, natural vs. artificial biodiversity conservation, concerns about justice etc.)
• Limits of the biodiversity concept in environmental ethics and promising alternative
concepts

Therefore, presentations can cover a range of philosophical questions about how the concept of biodiversity should be defined, why (or why not) it should be considered to be morally relevant, or which methods ought to be regarded as appropriate (or inappropriate) for its conservation, restoration or augmentation.

This thematic session will span over two session slots during the conference and presentations will be grouped by their content with one session dedicated to more abstract deliberations in terms of conceptual analysis, value-theory etc. and a second session being primarily dedicated to application/policy-orientated normative questions.

Confirmed speakers are Anna Deplazes Zemp (University of Zurich), Teea Kortetmäki (University of Jyväskylä), Markku Oksanen (University of Eastern Finland) and Anna Wienhues (University of Zurich).

We particularly welcome proposals from all traditions and perspectives within environmental philosophy. Each presentation is allocated 30 min (for a presentation and Q&A). The WBF conference attracts an interdisciplinary academic crowd that is interested in different aspects of biodiversity conservation. Therefore, presentations should be designed to address an interdisciplinary audience. Interested presenters will also have the opportunity to share their presentations in form of draft papers with the other thematic session participants before the conference to allow for further in-depth exchange (optional pre-read papers).

Application:
Please submit a 250 to 400 words abstract of your presentation (including contact details and affiliation) to [email protected]. Also mention in your application whether you would like to participate in-person or virtually at the event. The submission deadline is the 07. November 2021.