The Ecology of Ideas Podcast

Attila Márton

The ecological crisis is foremost a crisis in our ways of thinking. Join digital ecologist Attila Márton in his conversations with thought leaders, as he attempts to learn about how we have to change our philosophies to develop an ecologic style of thinking ready for the 21st century.

Episodes

  1. EPISODE 2

    Escaping the Logic of Extraction with Maja Göpel - Ecology of Ideas S01E02

    None of us would say we want war, poverty, or environmental collapse. And yet, these crises continue to unfold around us. Why is it so hard to collaborate and prevent the very things we all oppose? In this episode, we’re joined by Maja Göpel, German political economist and transformation researcher, to explore this question. According to Maja, the problem lies in the deep structures of our institutions, which are still shaped by a logic of extraction and a culture of incrementalism. These frameworks limit our ability to respond meaningfully to systemic challenges like climate change. Maja invites us to imagine new ways of organizing society that break free from small, cautious steps and instead embrace bold, collective transformation rooted in an ecological mindset. ---------------------- Reading recommendation: Göpel M. (2023) Rethinking Our World: An Invitation to Rescue Our Future. Scribe Publications. References: Polanyi K. (1944/2024) The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time. Penguin Books.Meadows D., Randers J., and Meadows D. (2004) Limits to Growth: The 30-Year Update. Chelsea Green House Publishing.Botkin J.W., Elmandjra M., and Malitz M. (1979) No Limits to Learning. Club of Rome.Meadows D. (2008) Thinking in Systems: A Primer. Chelsea Green House Publishing. (open access)Hickel J. (2020) Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World. Penguin Books.Schelling T.C. (1978) Micromotives and Macrobehavior. W.W. Norton & Co.Kasser T. (2002) The High Price of Materialism. MIT Press. (open access)recorded 8th December 2023 Editing and Post-Production by Emil Munk Hosted by Attila Márton Original Music by Ariel Bialksi Recording by Jakob Ranum Produced by Attila Márton and Emil Munk This episode was financially supported by the Copenhagen Business School

    53 min
  2. EPISODE 3

    The Ecological Economics of Justice with Inge Røpke - Ecology of Ideas S01E03

    If you had to choose between being rich or being well, chances are you'd choose your own well-being. And yet, we live in a world shaped by an economic system that prioritizes wealth over wellness. In this episode, we’re joined by Inge Røpke, professor of ecological economics at Aalborg University in Denmark. Inge invites us to reflect on the limits of conventional economic thinking, and how it shapes the way we understand value and progress. She makes the case for placing justice and ecological awareness at the heart of a more thoughtful and inclusive approach to economics that encourages us to look beyond numbers and toward the kind of society we actually want to live in. ---------------------- Reading recommendation: Martínez-Alier J. and Røpke I. (eds.) (2008) Recent Developments in Ecological Economics. Edward Elgar Publishing. References: Martínez-Alier J. (1990) Ecological Economics: Energy, Environment and Society. Basil Blackwell Publishing.Ehrlich P.R. (1968) The Population Bomb. Ballantine Books.Meadows D., Randers J., and Meadows D. (2004) Limits to Growth: The 30-Year Update. Chelsea Green House Publishing.Georgescu-Roegen N. (1971) The Entropy Law and the Economic Process. Harvard University Press.World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) Our Common Future (aka the Brundtland Report). United Nations. (open access)Raworth K. (2017) Doughnut Economics. Penguin Books.recorded 27th June 2022 Recording, Editing and Post-Production by Emil Munk Hosted by Attila Márton Original Music by Ariel Bialksi Produced by Attila Márton and Emil Munk This episode was financially supported by the Copenhagen Business School

    58 min
  3. EPISODE 4

    Thinking Ecologically with Nora Bateson - Ecology of Ideas S01E04

    What is the difference between thinking ecologically and thinking about ecology? In this episode, we speak with Nora Bateson, systems thinker, ecological philosopher, writer, and filmmaker, whose work has been highly influential for this podcast. Nora carries forward a remarkable intellectual legacy. Her father, Gregory Bateson, was a pioneering anthropologist and ecological thinker, and her grandfather, William Bateson, coined the term genetics. The phrase ecology of ideas, which gives this podcast its name, comes directly from her father's work. Nora invites us to see the world not as isolated issues, but as interconnected patterns within living systems. Through this lens, we begin to understand that ecological awareness is not just about the environment but about how we relate with those interconnected patterns. ---------------------- Reading recommendation: Bateson N. (2023) Combining. Triarchy Press. References: Bateson N. (2016) Small Arcs of Larger Circles: Framing Through Other Patterns. Triarchy Press.Bateson G. (1972/2000) Steps to and Ecology of Mind: Collected Essays in Anthropology, Psychiatry, Evolution, and Epistemology. The University of Chicago Press.recorded 11th December 2023 Editing and Post-Production by Emil Munk Hosted by Attila Márton Original Music by Ariel Bialksi Recording by Jakob Ranum Produced by Attila Márton and Emil Munk This episode was financially supported by the Copenhagen Business School

    56 min

About

The ecological crisis is foremost a crisis in our ways of thinking. Join digital ecologist Attila Márton in his conversations with thought leaders, as he attempts to learn about how we have to change our philosophies to develop an ecologic style of thinking ready for the 21st century.