Workshop: Reimagining Time - Temporal Perspectives for a Sustainable Future

Please note: this event will be in English

The Pathways to Sustainability project Reimagining Constitutional Ecology (RICE) strives to develop a new constitutional framework for a resilient, sustainable and circular, but also democratic society based on the rule of law. Our approach to the concept of ‘constitutional’ extends beyond its traditional legal definition to encompass both the formal foundational documents of a society and the deeper, constitutive concepts that shape these legal frameworks. These foundational notions influence the choices embedded in legal structures and, ultimately, the functioning of society itself.

The RICE team has identified three pivotal themes essential to this quest: Time, Value(s) and Relationships & Responsibilities. These themes act as prisms through which we can critically examine and reimagine the political, economic and philosophical foundations of our constitutions. Such re-imagination is necessary to effectively address the ecological and climate crises we currently face. Throughout the academic year 2024/25, we will explore these themes in three interdisciplinary workshops, each designed to foster dialogue and fresh perspectives on these critical issues.

Our first seminar, focused on Time, will be held on 6 December 2024. During this event, scholars from diverse disciplines – including archeology, history, philosophy, economy, anthropology and law –  will reflect on how our perception of time inform our current approach to policies and the law. We will, for example, examine to what extent ancient, pre-nation societies embraced a circular and sustainable society in the past and how their practices can help us to critically reflect on our current approaches to sustainability. We will also consider how  Western and non-Western philosophies conceptualize time in ways that might better serve present and future societal needs.