Alienation and Knowledge: The Anthropocene and Human Development 1
Alienation and Knowledge: The Anthropocene and Human Development 1
Tuesday, 8 July 2025: 13:00-14:45
Location: SJES009 (Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences (JES))
RC36 Alienation Theory and Research (host committee) Language: English and French
Human history reveals uneven mastery over nature and the emergence of various forms of oppression through socio-historical developments in economic and political structures, perpetuated within social institutions. In this context, the session will elaborate on alienation in the context of the quest of knowledge, recognizing how both social and existential forms of alienation influence individuals' social engagement, education, human development, and learning. While alienation is a hindrance to critical thinking and creativity challenging established norms, it can also restrict knowledge acquisition, fostering disengagement and apathy. The session will give opportunities to open for discussions in order to reflect on (experiences of) alienation and its impact on processes of human development and education as well as learning. We invite you to join us in investigating the processes and dynamics of alienation, knowledge and human development, aiming to deepen understanding of how these dynamics shape perceptions and engagement with intellectual pursuits. These knowledge and perceptions outline human action upon Nature and the transformation of our surroundings accordingly, projecting the anthropocenic scenario we aim to explore. In this respect, this session aims to question the linear progress narrative rooted in instrumental rationality and competition, prompting considerations of alternative utopias inherent to human solidarity. It seeks to explore concepts and possibilities for implementing new visions of human action in practical contexts, challenging conventional notions of progress and envisioning futures diverging from historical trajectories.
Session Organizer:
Oral Presentations