Empathy, Coexistence, and the Inherent Potentiality and Actuality in Aristotle: Rethinking Environmental Urge

Abstract

This essay delves into environmental ethics, challenging the prevalent dualistic perspective through the illuminating lens of Aristotle’s profound concepts of Potentiality and Actuality. At its core, the essay advocates for a paradigm shift towards fostering empathy and recognizing the intricate interconnectedness between living and non-living entities within the environment. It argues passionately for a holistic understanding that transcends the narrow confines of a rigid separation between unchanging forms and matter, urging a profound appreciation of the inherent potentiality within all environmental elements. By shifting the discourse towards Aristotle’s profound insights into biological organisms, the essay embarks on a compelling exploration of the complex web of relationships and interdependence among these entities. It emphasizes the pivotal role of empathy as a transformative tool for acknowledging and revering the unique potentiality inherent in each environmental component. This empathic approach transcends narrow anthropocentric viewpoints, acknowledging and honouring the intrinsic worth of every environmental element. Furthermore, the essay explores additional thought-provoking themes, including Deleuze’s revolutionary concept of creative becoming. This entails embracing the transformative processes of becoming-animal and becoming-earth as profound pathways to nurture and cultivate empathetic sensibilities in alignment with the imperative of fostering harmonious coexistence with all inhabitants of our planet. In essence, this essay serves as a poignant testament to the critical importance of empathy, interconnectedness, and the intrinsic value of environmental entities in shaping our ethical frameworks and fostering sustainable coexistence on our shared Earth.