Episode summary
Philosopher and environmental researcher Ville Lähde (with the Finnish BIOS Research Unit) argues that we need to understand biodiversity differently at a fundamental level in order to preserve it. Biodiversity loss is much more than the list of extinct and endangered species. In our conversation, we talk about the myriad food systems and their different relationships with biodiversity, what are the hidden costs of simplifying biodiversity, and why Ville feels closest to biodiversity when working with his compost pile.
About Ville Lähde
Ville Lähde, PhD, is a researcher in the independent BIOS Research Unit in Finland. His academic background is in philosophy and environmental policy, and in BIOS his work has ranged from food system issues to the question of environmental metrics, from problems of population arguments to the rhetorics of climate obstruction. In addition to research, Ville works to explain complex environmental issues to laypeople audiences. For two decades, he has also been active in the Finnish philosophical journal niin & näin and has translated dozens of environmental and political essays and articles into Finnish.
Ville Lähde's writing
BIOS. Life matters everywhere. The notion of Biodiversity in the Dasgupta Review. (2022)
Ecology and Society. The crisis inherent in the success of the global food system (Lähde et al., 2023)
Aeon. Decoupling (2024)
Aeon. The polycrisis (2023)
Open Democracy. If laboratory food is the answer, what is the question? (2020)
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