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Ecosophy is a concept that combines ecology and philosophy, often described as “the wisdom of the Earth.” Aseem Shrivastava, along with Shyam Sundar Sridhar, speak at length about humanity’s disconnect with nature.
The Naimisam – Jiddu Krishnamurti Center in Hyderabad organized the Earth Festival 2025. The day before the festival, a private retreat was held with Aseem Shrivastava on Ecosophy. Aseem Shrivastava is a writer, teacher, and ecological thinker who holds a doctorate in Economics from the University of Massachusetts.
Ecosophy is a concept that combines ecology and philosophy, often described as “the wisdom of the Earth.”
Aseem Shrivastava, along with Shyam Sundar Sridhar, spoke at length about humanity’s disconnect with nature. He wove together insights from Jiddu Krishnamurti, Rabindranath Tagore, Gandhi, Nehru, René Descartes, Francis Bacon, and Thomas Hobbes, logically connecting their ideas to the concept of “development”—a euphemism for Western imperialism.
He also spoke at length about the three thinkers who laid the foundation for modern Western thought:
René Descartes – Mind vs. Body
Francis Bacon – Man vs. Nature
Thomas Hobbes – Self vs. Other
The discussion also delved into and deepened our understanding of Swaraj vs. Democracy.
He explored the concepts of “planetization” and earth alienation in relation to the ecological crises facing humanity.
He made a strong statement about economics, calling it “a profession of charlatans, who actively deny paradise and project utopia.”
Such dialogues are critical as they help us understand the ecological crisis on a much broader canvas and drive critical thinking about how we are addressing the crisis.
The festival also featured a panel discussion titled “Humanity is hurtling on a path to self-obliteration. Can youth and citizenry intercept?” The Panellist were: Sagardhara, Dileep Kamat, Bharat Mansata, Mayank Ale and Myself