Roundtable | Toward a New Enlightenment for the Anthropocene

The Center for French and Francophone Studies at Duke University, in partnership with Columbia University and Villa Albertine, is delighted to welcome Corine Pelluchon (Professor of Philosophy at Université Gustave Eiffel) and Cyrille Barnérias (Director of International Relations at the French Biodiversity Office) for a roundtable titled "Mending the Living World: Toward a New Enlightenment for the Anthropocene."

This hybrid event will take place on Monday, January 26th at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern). Provided is a link to register for the Zoom call: https://duke.zoom.us/meeting/register/_6YTFnYmT9ivixHBJPSoQw#/registrat…

Pelluchon and Barnérias will be in conversation with Professor Lori Bennear (Stanback Dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University) and Distinguished Professor of Romance Studies Felwine Sarr. Together, they will reflect on the idea of a "New Enlightenment" for the Anthropocene, exploring emerging forms of interdependence among human, animal, and plant life in the face of biodiversity loss.

The discussion will consider how earlier societies and ecosystems co-adapted to climate pressures, and whether a new social contract could foster a more equitable coexistence between human and nonhuman worlds. It will also examine how these philosophical and ethical reflections can be translated into public policy and meaningful forms of public engagement.