Theology, Ecology, and Natural Science

2021 Call for Papers

Lucas Briola, Saint Vincent College (PA)

lucas.briola@stvincent.edu

Paul Schutz, Santa Clara University (CA)

pjschutz@scu.edu

In Laudato si', Pope Francis tells us, “There can be no renewal of our relationship with nature without a renewal of humanity itself. There can be no ecology without an adequate anthropology” (LS 118). Indeed, the encyclical documents extensively the human (dehumanizing) roots of the crises—scientific, ecological, and human—plaguing our common home. We seek papers in this spirit. Specific topics include:

• Considering how the intersecting “cries” of the earth and the poor in terms of their capacity to promote the flourishing of human persons and communities and the flourishing of creation;
• Exploring how ecoracism functions as an instrument of dehumanization and proposing strategies for dismantling ecoracist structures;
• Synthesizing the themes of “human ecology” and “natural ecology” in Laudato Si' and broader Catholic social teaching into a holistic vision of creational health;
• Assessing the dehumanizing impact of the technocratic paradigm and suggesting alternative models of human society, with particular reference to scientific, philosophical, and ecological insights;
• Analyzing, especially in dialogue with Laudato si’, the potential and limitations of various perspectives “-centrisms” (i.e. anthropocentrism, biocentrism/Deep Ecology, ecocentrism) in terms of their ability to promote socio-ecological flourishing;
• Exploring the humanizing or dehumanizing dimensions of transhumanist thought vis-à-vis theological perspectives on the meaning and dignity of the human person;
• Evaluating insights from scientific, philosophical, and theological analyses of human animality, especially in terms of human relations with other creatures.

Proposals should be 250-500 words in length and include one’s current institutional affiliation and position. Proposals should be emailed by January 15, 2020. Scholars will be notified of the status of their proposals by mid-February.