The planetary man

Nature and visions in post-Christian cosmologies

Abstract

Despite evidence of a biblical influence on the anthropocentric model of man’s dominance over nature, some trends of Christian thought dialogue with the contemporary philosophical and anthropological insights on nature and human relationship with it. Beside Pope Francis’ relevant contribution to the debate on climate change and anthropocentrism at large, and his call for integral ecology, other Christian experiences are of great interest in this regard. The article focuses on the work of an Italian Catholic thinker who anticipated some of the current theoretical questions about Anthropocene, and envisioned a novel post-Christian, generally post-religious and even post-cultural, cosmology which is worth to investigate. In L’uomo planetario (The Planetary Man) (1985), Ernesto Balducci presents a vision of human interdependence with nature, echoing themes later explored by posthumanist anthropology. Balducci advocates for transcending the human-centered view of nature as a separate object, and embracing a planetary consciousness, urging a re-evaluation of the human-nonhuman relationship. His perspective, which predates current onto-ecological debates, underscores the urgency of overcoming anthropocentrism and embracing a holistic approach to environmental stewardship. Balducci’s vision aligns astonishingly with Chakrabarty’s concept of the “planetary age” and resonates with his argument on overcoming sustainability toward planetary habitability. Revisiting Balducci’s insights, we can find inspiration in our constant search for new visionary visions of nature and our place within it.