This book examines the overlooked yet pivotal concept of ignorance in environmental philosophy, critiquing its marginalization in both science and philosophy. It identifies ignorance as the “unknown unknowns” that science struggles to address and argues that academic reliance on identity hinders understanding of such complexities. Drawing on Derrida’s critique of identity, the book demonstrates how ignorance challenges the authority of scientific and philosophical frameworks, questioning whether these disciplines can genuinely contribute to solving environmental crises.
Preface IntroductionPART I SCIENCE AND IGNORANCEChapter 1 The Problem of Knowledge and IgnoranceChapter 2 Risk, Uncertainty, and IgnoranceChapter 3 The Problem of ScaleChapter 4 Recovery and ReductionPART II PHILOSOPHY AND THE EXCLUSION OF IGNORANCEChapter 5 Identity and UniformityChapter 6 The Problem of LogicalityChapter 7 Phenomenology and Its LimitsChapter 8 Deconstruction and the TraceChapter 9 Nietzsche and IgnoranceChapter 10 Autopoiesis and Institutional ClosurePART III ETHICS AND RESPONSIBILITYChapter 11 Responsibility and FreedomChapter 12 Ethical Response and the Limits of KnowledgeChapter 13 Dialogue with Philosophers and ScientistsChapter 14 Conclusion: Thinking the Outside of DisclosureAppendixBibliography