Beyond Technical Fixes: Sufism, Contemplation, and Climate Change as Human Predicament

Summary

The climate crisis is not merely a technological problem but a spiritual and existential one rooted in a mechanistic view of nature as a resource. Drawing on Seyyed Hossein Nasr and Hartmut Rosa, the article argues that Sufi contemplative practices foster ecological consciousness through 'resonance,' treating nature as sacred and alive. This shift in self-understanding is essential for addressing environmental degradation.

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Abstract

Building on the works of the Sufi philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr and the German sociologist Hartmut Rosa, this article argues that the climate crisis signals a deeper spiritual and existential crisis beyond technological solutions and carbon reduction strategies. Departing from conventional problem-solution narratives, it frames climate change as a crisis of human self-understanding and our relationship with the more-than-human world. The dominant mechanistic paradigm, which views nature as a resource for exploitation, has led to environmental degradation and alienation. Nasr critiques this objectification, emphasizing that nature must be seen as sacred rather than as a mere resource. In dialogue with Rosa, the article explores the concept of “resonance” and argues that Sufi contemplative practices cultivate a profound ecological consciousness. By integrating Sufi ontology with ethics, it advocates for an interconnected vision of life by treating everything in nature as alive and spiritually meaningful.

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