220120 History, Philosophy, and Economics of Biodiversity (S) (WiSe 2016/2017)

The notion of biodiversity has been introduced in 1985 as a term for the variety of life forms on different levels, ranging from genetic variety to species and ecosystems. From beginning on, it has been linked to social, economic, ethical, and cultural values. Since 1992, when the Earth Summit of Rio de Janeiro also entailed a convention on biological diversity by the United Nations, the term has gained prominence in global politics. Its history is longer, though, as the underlying meanings of the notion biodiversity can be found in discussions about evolution, bio-geographical distribution of species, and genetics throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Thus, biodiversity is an example where we can study the changing intertwinements of political, social, cultural, and scientific aspects of modern society, including the often contested border between nature and culture/society. In addition, it is a case where it is important to build a historically informed view on current trends and developments in the governance of the life, earth and environmental sciences.
The overall aims of the seminar are twofold. First, we want to better understand how modern societies engage in discussions about the prospects of life on earth. What are the roles of the physical and life sciences in this regard? How do the sciences interact with politics, economics, and other social forces? We also ask about the regulation of biodiversity by governments, companies, and NGOs. Second, how are the sciences shaped by these inter-actions? What are the effects with regard to institutional change, data management and publications policy, and the self-understanding of scientists as political, or media-visible actors?
The seminar tries to achieve these goals on the basis of a problem-centered structure, introducing key questions with case-oriented literature, and additional documents that are analyzed in class. In the end, students should be enabled to critically question the practice of biodiversity, particularly with the use of the theories of governance and regulation. They should be aware of the historicity of biodiversity, and its effects on parts of today’s scientific system. Above all, they should gain experience in interdisciplinary dialogue.