Re: Gardening and Philosophy

Ruth — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:10:19 GMT

Dan

Somehow this post caught my interest, I concur that each topic is relevant. Not that I presume to have any expertise in the Philosophy of gardens. And I am not a professional or even good amateur gardener. It's just that I have a great fondness for gardens. It doesn't really matter what type of garden. So I gave it a little thought. Why do I have this almost emotional feel or need for a garden?

You know, I believe that I have an "attachment" to gardens simply because I was always in the garden as a child. While in the pram my mother put all of us in the garden during most fine weathers all year round. I have early recollections of trees and light, scents, plant sounds, starlings and sparrows song. As a young child I was sent out to play in the garden for hours on end. In and out of the house I would go chatting. It was my playmate and to a certain extent it still is.They do say the first five years of a child are it's most important for learning and nurture. What do others think?

Ruth

Gardening and Philosophy

Dan O'Brien — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:00:37 GMT

Those reading this post might be interested in contributing to a volume I am editing for Wiley-Blackwell on Gardening and Philosophy. I am particularly interesting in contributions from those in the field, as it were, and not just academics. Here's the details:

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

GARDENING AND PHILOSOPHY

Dan O’Brien (ed.)

Research Fellow

Oxford Brookes University

Gardens were important at the dawn of philosophy -- Plato and Epicurus taught in them -- and they raise a broad spectrum of philosophical questions. This book hopes to address those concerning meaning and representation, aesthetics, the good life, political philosophy, ontology and metaphysics, religion and bioethics. Below are some suggested topics, although others are welcome.

§ Epicurus’ garden and its role in his philosophy

§ Plato and the groves of Academe

§ Gardens as representations of nature

§ Can gardens be works of art?

§ Gardens as expressions of emotion

§ Gardening, happiness and eudaimonia

§ Does gardening inculcate ethical virtues?

§ The kitchen garden and self-sufficiency

§ Allotments and socialism

§ Gardens and national identity

§ Can a garden be moved?

§ Is this the same garden as last year?

§ Gardens and religious symbolism

§ Eden

§ Zen gardens

§ Voltaire, theodicy and “cultivating our garden”

§ The ethics of killing slugs and pests

It is proposed that this volume will be published in the Wiley-Blackwell series Philosophy for Everyone. Other titles include Wine and Philosophy, Beer and Philosophy, Food and Philosophy, Pornography and Philosophy, and Cannabis and Philosophy. The series aims to be accessible to the general public and so your essays should not be overly technical. They can, however, contain some serious scholarship. Contributors to this volume will include philosophers, sociologists, political theorists, theologians, historians and, of course, gardeners.

Guidelines for Contributions

Abstract of paper (approx. 250 words) submission deadline: January 15, 2009

Final papers should be between 4000–5000 words.

Abstracts should be submitted by email to gardeningandphilosophy@gmail.com

Yours

Dan

____________

Dr Dan O'Brien

Research Fellow, Oxford Brookes University

Honorary Research Fellow, Birmingham University

Associate Lecturer, The Open University

General Gardening

Re: Gardening and Philosophy

Gardening and Philosophy