The Philosophy of Extinction: Environmental Humanities & the Biodiversity Crisis

The Philosophy of Extinction: Environmental Humanities & the Biodiversity Crisis

by Thom van Dooren

Humanities, Social Sciences & Thought Philosophy & Ethics QDTTopics in philosophyQDTQEthics and moral philosophy
🎙 Thom van Dooren 👥 20K 📅 February 6, 2026 ⏱ 35 min 👁 182 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-08-06
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

extinctionfield philosophymultispeciesstorytellingethics

Summary

Thom van Dooren, professor at the University of Sydney and winner of the BBVA Foundation Biophilia Award, delivers a lecture on extinction from the perspective of environmental humanities. He begins by thanking the foundation and emphasizing the role of humanities in addressing environmental crises. He introduces his method of ‘field philosophy,’ which combines empirical research with philosophical reflection. He illustrates this with two case studies: Hawaiian tree snails, whose chemosensory worlds are largely unknown, and vultures in Mumbai, whose decline has disrupted Zoroastrian burial practices. These examples show that extinction is not just the loss of genetic resources but the unraveling of entire worlds and relationships. He then discusses whooping crane conservation, highlighting the complex ethical compromises involved in captive breeding and ultralight-led migrations. He argues for a ‘multispecies’ approach to ethics and storytelling, emphasizing the need to understand extinction as a long, drawn-out process with rippling effects. The lecture concludes by calling for a more nuanced understanding of extinction that considers the diverse ethical demands it raises.

168 words

Critical Evaluation

The lecture offers a compelling and philosophically rich perspective on extinction, grounded in extensive fieldwork. Van Dooren’s method of ‘field philosophy’ is innovative, bridging empirical science and humanities. He effectively uses specific case studies to illustrate abstract concepts, making the content accessible and engaging. The argument that extinction is a process of ‘unraveling’ rather than a singular event is well-supported and challenges conventional views. The ethical dimension is thoughtfully explored, particularly in the whooping crane example, where he highlights the compromises inherent in conservation efforts. However, the lecture is primarily an expert opinion piece, and while it references scholars like Donna Haraway and Vinciane Despret, it does not provide a systematic review of literature or empirical data. The focus on storytelling and multispecies ethics is valuable but may be seen as somewhat idealistic. The title accurately reflects the content, and the lecture is well-structured. Overall, it is a high-quality contribution to environmental humanities, though it may not satisfy those seeking quantitative or purely scientific analysis.

165 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which explores extinction from a philosophical and environmental humanities perspective.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The lecture is delivered by a recognized expert (University of Sydney professor, award winner) and draws on nearly two decades of fieldwork. It is grounded in empirical research and philosophical analysis, but it is an opinion/expert lecture rather than a peer-reviewed study. The content is coherent and well-argued, with references to scholars like Donna Haraway and Vinciane Despret.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

Concurring Sources

Dissenting Sources

  • The Biodiversity Crisis: A Scientific Perspective

Contribution & Novelties

The lecture offers a novel approach to extinction by integrating empirical fieldwork with philosophical analysis, emphasizing the importance of understanding extinction as a process of unraveling relationships. It contributes to the growing field of environmental humanities by advocating for multispecies ethics and storytelling.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Environmental Humanities — Overview of the interdisciplinary field.
  • Donna Haraway — Feminist scholar whose work on storytelling and multispecies relations is central to the lecture.
  • Vinciane Despret — Philosopher of science whose ideas on animal worlds are referenced.

86 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in quality of information and reliability, reflecting the expert's credibility and well-grounded arguments. The quantity of information is moderate, and the technical level is accessible, making it suitable for a broad audience interested in environmental ethics.

Reliability 8/10