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Ecomodernist metaphors: what they reveal and what they hide

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  • Umberto Mario Sconfienza

    (Goethe University Frankfurt)

Abstract

The article analyzes two metaphors for representing ecomodernism, i.e., the idea that humans should use technology to decouple the effects that human activities have on the environment from the environment. As metaphors are powerful representation tools, their study contributes to understand how and why a specific environmental ideology can be pushed on the frontline of political action. The two metaphors are (i) a rocket traveling through the atmosphere (Bostrom, Glob Policy 4(1):15–31, 2013; Karlsson, Anthropocene Rev 3(1):23–32, 2016) and (ii) a truck driver moving past an emerging multi-vehicles pile-up (Szerszynski, Environ Human 7(1):239–244, 2015). While, at a first look, they seem quite similar, their differences reveal their authors’ profound disagreement over the ecomodernist project. On the other hand, the similarities hide important aspects of the ecomodernist project which are not considered in either of the two metaphors. Both ecomodernist metaphors conceal ideological commitments, normative presuppositions, and assumptions about the physical and the social world.

Suggested Citation

  • Umberto Mario Sconfienza, 2019. "Ecomodernist metaphors: what they reveal and what they hide," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 9(2), pages 247-249, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jenvss:v:9:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1007_s13412-019-00546-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s13412-019-00546-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nick Bostrom, 2013. "Existential Risk Prevention as Global Priority," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 4(1), pages 15-31, February.
    2. Kallis, Giorgos, 2011. "In defence of degrowth," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(5), pages 873-880, March.
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    1. Giuseppe Lucio Gaeta & Stefano Ghinoi & Matteo Masotti & Francesco Silvestri, 2021. "Economics research and climate change. A Scopus-based bibliometric investigation," SEEDS Working Papers 0321, SEEDS, Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies, revised Apr 2021.

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