Nature belongs to itself?!

Does nature belong to itself? Can it therefore be a subject that has its own rights like other legal subjects? And if so, what does this look like in concrete terms? What does it mean for our understanding of property? How can nature represent itself? Who can credibly act as its deputy? Behind such considerations lies an explosive question: How can we succeed in preserving the natural conditions in which we live from the brutal grip of interest-led global commercialisation and plundering as well as thoughtless overuse in the long term? As long as 50 years ago, the philosopher Hans Jonas called for nature to be granted its own right to exist so that life on our planet can continue to be worth living in the future. The threat to the climate not only questions our habits, but also throws our ways of thinking into disarray. Humans are no longer the centre of attention, but part of a shared world. What does that mean? The series of events is dedicated to these topics and invites people to engage in dialogue at various locations.

The panel discussion on 24 April will focus on the question "Who owns nature?" from a legal, philosophical and political perspective. Because: If we grant nature rights, it must also be possible to exercise them. But how do we do that? The panellists are:

• Bärbel Frischmann, Professor of History of Philosophy at the University of Erfurt;
• Michael Riegner, Assistant Professor of International Administrative Law and Public International Law at the University of Erfurt and
• Tilo Wesche, Professor of Practical Philosophy at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg and author of the book "Die Rechte der Natur. Vom nachhaltigen Eigentum".

The evening is a collaboration between the Catholic Forum in Thuringia, the Heinrich Böll Foundation Thuringia, the Max-Weber-Kolleg and the Economics, Law and Social Sciences Forum at the University of Erfurt, the Augustinian Convent "St Martin of Tours" Erfurt, the association Philosophia e.V. and the Bildungswerk im Bistum Erfurt e.V. and is sponsored by the Thuringian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.