Where ecospirituality is grounded: Nature as place

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.