Where ecospirituality is grounded: Nature as place
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Place is a fundamental dimension of human existence, yet its meaning remains complex and contested across disciplines. This article examines how the notion of nature as place can be understood as a core category within ecospirituality. Drawing on selected interdisciplinary themes from ecophilosophy and ecotheology, the article argues that the significance of nature as place in ecospirituality can be articulated through a conceptual trajectory that includes the physical-geographical concreteness of place, the interrelation between humans and nature, the cultivation of emotional awareness and ultimately the transformative potential of aesthetic experiences in nature. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: Taken together, these perspectives offer valuable resources for a deeper understanding of nature as place in ecospirituality and demonstrate that nature as place functions as a precondition for fostering ethical awareness of our surrounding nature.
Source: Verbum et Ecclesia
Author: Knut-Willy Sæther
Institution: Volda University College
Language: English
Subfield: Religious studies
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $605
OpenAlex ID: W7143379929