Nature & Freedom. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies
Naturaleza y libertad publishes exclusively scientific material (papers, notes and commentaries, book reviews) related to the subject matter to which its title refers, which includes: Philosophy of nature with special emphasis on determining the position of human being within the universe. Philosophical anthropology from the perspective of its relationships with the disciplines that study human being as part of nature (biology, biDiochemistry, neurosciences, artificial intelligence, complexity sciences). A distinctive feature of Naturaleza y Libertad is the importance it attaches to interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary aspects, which makes it a useful instrument to try to overcome the age-old separation between science and humanities. The sequence of the publication is annual. In addition to the publication of miscellaneous issues, monographic issues are planned as well. The journal publishes papers in Spanish and English, although occasionally texts may be published in other languages of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as in other international languages that are common vehicles for the expression of scientific knowledge. Indexed in: REDIB, Miar, The Philosopher's Index, Google Scholar, ROAD, WorldCat, BASE (Bielefeld Academic Search Engine) Evaluated in: Latindex catálogo 2.0, ÍnDICEs-CSIC, ERIH PLUS, CIRC: Clasificación Integrada de Revistas Científicas Included in the following directories of periodicals: DOAJ, Ulrich's Periodicals Directory, Dialnet, Dulcinea, DRJI (Directory of Research Journals Indexing)
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This study introduces us to the psychological and emotional world of the creative individual where the artistic act manifests how in the human being the ideal conditions are being given to develop a self-conscious evolution where an artistic attitude would help us in this soul search, since in all the activities of our aesthetic being there is a power that perceives through an inner knowledge that makes us see beyond the surface of reality through subjectivism, capable of promoting creativity by putting us in harmony not only with our evolutionary past but also with our future through the symbol, which in art becomes a fundamental expression of human nature that all beings share, being an impulse that pushes us towards an experience of totality that would have to do with the evolution of consciousness.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nature & Freedom. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The Organism-Environment Relationship and the Emergence of a Unified Concept of Environment
Nowadays, the concept of environment is commonly used, both in scientific speech or in more mundane realms, such as in political or economic issues. However, this conceptualization of the environment, as something singular and abstract with which organisms continuously interact, was not known until the middle of the 19th century. This concept was coined and emphasized by Herbert Spencer, who primarily inherited the idea that organisms are constantly affected by their external circumstances firstly from Lamarck, and then Charles Lyell, Alexander von Humboldt, and especially Auguste Comte. From Lamarck, who was influenced by Cuvier and Buffon, Spencer received the idea of a physicochemical environment sustaining life. With von Humboldt and Lyell, Spencer became progressively aware of the relevance of other living beings in defining a specific organism’s environment. With Comte, Spencer encountered the idea of a correspondence between organism and environment, in which the latter was abstractly regarded. Consequently, Spencer would include physical, biological, and social circumstances under the umbrella of this abstraction. Darwin would also contribute to this fully different perspective on environment while highlighting the idea of struggle for existence, in which a new ecological stance, focused on the interdependence of organisms, was brought into the fore. My aim is to outline the history of the progressive concealment of elements of the external world surrounding an organism, which was involved in this continuous metaphysical abstraction of the concept of environment. Only then it became possible to construct a dichotomy between organism and environment, and the respective conceptualized interaction, which are crucial aspects to understanding the history of ecology.
This work analyzes the first formulation of Hans Jonas’s principle of responsibility in the economic sphere, presented in 1969—a decade before his renowned work Das Prinzip Verantwortung (1979). In the essay «Socio-economic Knowledge and Ignorance of Ends», Jonas proposes an ecological economic ethics grounded in responsibility toward both present and future life, human and non-human. The author anticipates concepts such as the heuristic of fear and comparative futurology, and criticizes the economic model based on unlimited growth and the exploitation of natural resources. He argues that the ecological crisis demands from economics a new moral order guided by frugality, modesty, and care. By situating economics as the original field of his ecological imperative, Jonas reveals that the integration of ecology, ethics, and economics is essential to ensure the continuity of life on the planet.
De la separación a la coevolución: el hombre en el ecosistema autopoiético
This paper explores the relationship between human beings and the ecosystem, using the concept of autopoiesis to illustrate how living systems, including humans, co-evolve with their environment. Drawing on the thought of Maturana and Varela, it delves into the idea that human beings are not isolated entities, but rather part of an interconnected system that self-organizes and evolves together with nature. From this perspective, the impact of human actions is analyzed, even the smallest ones, showing how they can significantly affect the planet. This reveals the need for a shift in our relationship with the environment, moving from a view of separation and domination to one of cooperation. In this context, a human ecology, sustainable and attentive to the needs of nature, emerges as a key principle for the survival and well-being of both humanity and the Earth.
A bioethical context of integral ecology
The encyclical Laudato Si' was signed in 2015, the same year in which the United Nations had set a deadline for the Millennium Development Goals. Comments are made from a bioethical perspective, highlighting its guiding role in helping to make these goals viable through changes in attitudes and behaviors. The origin and timeliness of these goals and their successors are questioned. The suggestions contained in Laudato Si' suggest that, in addition to environmental ecology, human ecology should also be considered as a more pressing imperative for the world. Laudato Si' contains several elements for understanding and bringing to life the interrelationship between human beings and the environment, without neglecting natural law and the common good. But macroeconomic indices that are less economistic in nature and more focused on human development and its capabilities must also be considered. It is necessary to adequately grasp the scale of the problems and offer guidelines for action that are not only possible, but above all appropriate, in line with ethics, true human rights, and a forward-looking vision that takes future generations into account.
The governance of modern technology as a fundamental dimension of human ecology
The paper presents the concept of human ecology in the teachings of the last three popes, with a particular emphasis on both the role of the relationship between humans and technology for human ecology, as well as the doctrinal development that progresses toward a non-instrumental understanding of modern technology based on the concept of the technocratic paradigm developed by Pope Francis. In a second part, the essential elements for understanding the ethical problem posed by modern technology are proposed, particularly concerning the relationship between humans and the environment. Finally, the essential elements for a theological understanding of this mediation of technology in the relationship are outlined, as well as the fundamental insights that Catholic theology has developed to define it. The article concludes by indicating how it is a necessary development of the concept of human ecology to incorporate the need to regulate humanity's immense technological power, so that it can become a complete paradigm that normatively expresses the way humans relate to themselves and to Creation.
Traditional ethical theories explore rights and duties of individuals; even those interested in the ethics of social relations have as their starting point individuals who then relate with one another. Yet, new ways of understanding ourselves and our relation to the ecosphere point to an inverse state of affairs: that individuals only arise from originary relations. This paper explores possibilities of ethics from a standpoint of relations and interconnectedness. Beginning with a phenomenological exploration of the notion of belonging (Barbaras), it moves to an exploration of its ethical implications. If ethics of care (Gilligan) began the journey, new understandings of our performative entanglement in the becoming of the world (Haraway, Barad, Butler) ask that we consider more radical ideas of responsibility.
This paper provides an account of the philosophical foundation of human ecology. While ecology is motivated by theoretical interest, human ecology is motivated by practical interest. The philosophical nature of human ecology is seen in its prudential and ethical concerns, which are intrinsically connected to the practical pursuit of a good life. The themes of human ecology and integral ecology are discussed using the concept ‘ecological spirituality’, mentioned by Pope Francis in his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’. Human ecology as a way of life is understood in terms of ecological spirituality while the dimensions of integral ecology include environmental, economic and social ecology. One of the major concerns of human ecology is the question of sustainability and its relation to consumption and production. On this account, a natural focus of human ecology is in the area of economic ecology. This paper presents an ecological approach to understanding the nature of business, production, work and wealth. A case study of the movement known as the Economy of Communion is provided as an example of a new ecologic paradigm that integrates spirituality with business practices, aims at the common good and promotes social justice in the world.
Science has amply demonstrated that contact with nature has positive effects on the health and well-being of human beings. The research we present investigated the sense of connection with nature and its relationship to psychological well-being. The sense of connection with nature is a very recent psychological construct, developed and investigated by several environmental psychologists. Nisbet, Murphy, and Zelensky (2009) refer to it as Nature Relatedness (NR). They regard it as a relatively stable personality trait and believe it is comparable to the concept of the ecological self developed by philosopher Arne Næss. Nature Relatedness consists of three sub-components: NR-perspective, NR-experience, and NR-self. NR-self is the deepest component and represents how strongly people identify with the natural environment. This component seems to fit perfectly with the concept of the ecological self. In a population of 237 teachers in training, we found a moderate positive correlation between Nature Relatedness and psychological well-being (0.203). The component most strongly correlated with psychological well-being is NR-experience (0.317), the subscale measuring behavior. This confirms the general findings of various scientific studies, which suggest that the tendency to spend time in nature increases levels of well-being.
In his pre-critical period, Kant, influenced by Buffon, proposed a radical change in Naturgeschichte: that this discipline should not study classifications of living beings, but rather their history and development. In his third critique, Kant continued to defend this same idea, now supported by his notion of organism (a self-organised being conceivable as a natural end and with a history). His conception of the organism, as well as his proposal on natural history, influenced his era and the subsequent one, both in Germany and France, laying the foundations for what we now know as biology.
The Hippocratic Oath in medical training
This article examines the relevance of the Hippocratic Oath in contemporary medical education and practice, highlighting its role as the ethical core underpinning the doctor-patient relationship. It analyses its historical evolution, philosophical and religious interpretations, as well as the challenges posed by ethical fragmentation in medicine today, especially in secularised and pluralistic contexts. It argues for the need to update the oath to reflect a unified commitment to essential principles such as life, dignity and non-maleficence, fostering comprehensive and deliberative moral formation. Finally, the text argues that recovering a common and coherent ethic is key to strengthening social trust, preserving medical humanism and facing the ethical dilemmas of the 21st century, on the basis of a solid morality inspired by the Christian tradition and respect for human dignity.
Dehaene, S. (2025): La conciencia en el cerebro: Descifrando el enigma de cómo el cerebro elabora nuestros pensamientos, Buenos Aires, Siglo Veintiuno Editores, 383 pp., ISBN: 978-84-323-2145-0
Ortigosa Peña, A. (2025): Hegel, el gnóstico. Entre la razón y la divinidad, Córdoba, Almuzara, 296 pp., ISBN: 978-84-10526-04-4
Pérez Marcos, M. (2025): Francis Crick. Estudio crítico de “La búsqueda científica del alma: una revolucionaria hipótesis para el siglo XXI”, Madrid, Funciva, 177 pp., ISBN 9798290541167
Bernácer, J. (2025): Neurociencia de la conciencia: Una visión crítica de su abordaje científico actual, Madrid, Editorial Tecnos, 132 pp., ISBN 978-84-309-9389-5
Copyright (c) 2026 Nature & Freedom. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Person and thinking Self in the third Paralogism: Between Nature and Freedom
This article analyzes the third paralogism of the Transcendental Dialectic of the Critique of Pure Reason, entitled «of personality». In it, Kant criticizes the way of reasoning of rational psychology, which bases the claim that the soul is a person on the assumption of the numerical identity of the self. Our aim is to study the Kantian position on personal identity and the thinking self from the point of view of the conflict between nature and freedom. We consider that the relation to this conflict involves two aspects: On the one hand, the question whether the discourse of the third paralogism situates the thinking self in an order other than the natural mechanical one; and, on the other hand, whether this discourse contributes to the concept of person. Based on this approach, we will not only look at what Kant criticizes (pars destruens) but also at what he admits.
Howard, S. (2023): Kant's late Philosophy of Nature. The Opus postumum. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 70 pp., ISBN 978-1-009-01376-5.
The final synthesis: The implications of the natural philosophy contained in the Opus postumum for the question «What is a human being?»
Kant’s thesis concerning the physical correlate of transcendental matter—proto-matter, cosmic or elementary matter, ether—which is the backbone of the Opus postumum, points to the pre-phenomenal foundation of the unity of the real. This foundation is consistent with a speculative hypothesis, ventured in the Critique of Pure Reason, concerning the original unity of body and soul. From the point of view of self-curing, this is consistent with Kantian approaches to the nurturing of human dispositions. Three of these are highlighted here: Kant’s strictly physiological treatment of mental illnesses, his statements on philosophy as exercise for the body, and his notion of dietetics. On the basis of this constellation of arguments, I propose a way to overcome the alleged Kantian dualism that finds its systematic axis in the notion of «mood» (Gemüt).
Kant on the Philosophical Significance of the Telescope
A footnote in the Critique of Pure Reason asserts, surprisingly, that astronomy teaches us two fundamental lessons of the critical philosophy: about the limits of theoretical cognition, and about the need to shift to practical philosophy and concern ourselves with the highest good. This article aims to explain this footnote, with reference to passages in Kant’s published and unpublished writings. A first set of passages concern the Leibnizian distinction between clear and obscure representations. Making a very different point to the footnote in the Critique, Kant claims that the telescope can clarify our representations. A second set of passages, in the third Critique, Reflexionen and lecture transcripts, suggest that astronomers have a particular tendency towards metaphysical issues. By combining the two sets of passages, I argue, we can reconstruct what Kant could have had in mind in the footnote. Astronomy is significance for the critical philosophy because it so successfully extends our knowledge, and thus, paradoxical as it may sound, reveals the greater field of what we do not know.
«Absolute, non comparative magnum»: The connotation of the mathematical in the Kantian Sublime
In the Analytic of the Sublime in Kant's Critique of the Power of Judgment, the connection between pure aesthetic judgment and mathematics appears at first sight as both surprising and unprecedented within Kantian aesthetics. The sublime is mathematical (as well as dynamical), leaving the attentive reader to ponder how this relationship between the mathematical and a feeling that claims universal communicability is possible. This distinction between mathematical and dynamic forms of the sublime is entirely original and lacks historical precedent. Neither Pseudo-Longinus nor Joseph Addison nor Edmund Burke nor Henry Home nor John Baillie (Scheck 2009, pp. 34ff), nor even Kant himself in his pre-critical work, Observations on the Feelings of the Beautiful and the Sublime (1764),[1] made this distinction between two types of the sublime: mathematical and dynamical. Moreover, Kant emphasizes the autonomy of pure aesthetic judgments from both particular concepts and specific sensations, as neither of these representations constitutes the foundation of aesthetic judgment. Consequently, the origin of the association between the sublime and the mathematical, as well as the dynamical, remains opaque. This article will focus exclusively on the nexus between the mathematical and the sublime, invoking the synthesis of composition from Kant's First Critique as a possible explanation of this Kantian innovation. [1] Kulenkampff claims that Burke's influence on the sublime is not limited to Observations on the Feeling of the Beautiful and the Sublime, but extends to the Critique of the Power of Judgment: „So ist zum Beispiel bei Burke in der Unterscheidung von Endlichkeit und Rissigkeit als Quellen des Erhabenen (verg. Burkes Schrift Kap. IV, Nr. 13. u. ö.) phänomenologisch die Unterscheidung zwischen dem Mathematisch-Erhabenen und dem Dynamisch-Erhabenen vorgebildet. Ebenso findet sich bei Burke, allerdings ganz psychologisch gedacht, die Erklärung, daß die psychische Wirkung des Erhabenen auf einem Wechsel zwischen Krampf und Lösung beruhe (IV, 3) und das positive Ergebnis eine reinigende Erschütterung sein kann (IV, 7) (verg. KdUB 80ff. u. 102ff.; 75)» (Kulenkampff (1974): 11). It is possible that Kant took the empirical perspective of Burke's division of the sublime to give it a systematic critical foundation in his philosophy, however, Burke does not consider the mathematical in any way in his study of the beautiful and the sublime. Consequently, it remains an original division in Kantian critical aesthetics.
Could Kant Shed Light on the Ontological Indeterminacy in Quantum Theory?
Quantum theory, particularly with its concepts of indeterminacy and superposition, demands of philosophers of science a profound review and a complete redefinition of the foundation of the notion of representation. This review has significant implications for assessing the Kantian heritage, especially for those among us who recognize the advances of the transcendental approach over realist and empiricist perspectives in epistemology. Kant endeavored to establish a foundation for the notion of representation consistent with the physics of his time. Today, as inheritors of Kant’s legacy in the philosophy of science, we face the challenge of establishing a new foundation for the idea of representation that aligns with the principles of contemporary science. In his Progress of Metaphysics, as well as in Religion Within the Boundaries of Mere Reason, Kant distinguishes between analogical (symbolic) schematism and real (transcendental) schematism. My aim in this work is to explore the notion of analogical schematism for evaluating the content of extra-empirical concepts in contemporary physical theories, where intuition proves to be intrinsically indeterminate.
Stamer, G. (2021): Kritik des lebendigen Verstandes. Erkenntnistheoretischer Entwurf zu einer Theorie der Einheit von Geist und Leben, Königshausen & Neumann, 200 pp. ISBN-13: 978-3826074523.
Leibniz's famous windmill metaphor posed a problem that much later Levine named the "explanatory gap" due to the apparent disjunction between the mental and material aspects of reality. In this regard, neutral monism happens to be a worthy rival to materialist monism by accepting the irreducible subjectivity of qualia. This thesis somehow separates psychology from physics and, if we add an additional hypothesis to it, banishes the possibility of thinking machines
Copyright (c) 2023 Nature & Freedom. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Results from evolutionary biology are sometimes relevant in ethics. It is possible to identify the effects of this science in at least three levels of ethics: the descriptive, the normative and the metaethical one. Our objective is to show what is the interrelation between these two disciplines and how is it possible to justify the origin of the moral behavior from the point of view of evolutionary biology. For doing so, it will be necessary to show the interactions between genes and environment, to face the challenge of the naturalistic fallacy and to show the relationships between the different capacities resulting from the evolutionary process.
Ideas showing the role of the hands in the evolution that led to homo sapiens and the development of the our specie through technology and science are presented. If language (in whose emergence the hands played a significant role) was essential in the social development of our specie, the mathematics, developed by the need of the technique and the social organisation, played a decisive role in the evolution of our abstract thinking and technological achievements. A taxonomy for human technological development is proposed.
Nature according to the new esthetic Bildung
Like every concept, the concept of nature has a history consisting of a complex weave of layers of meaning that appear and are concealed at different times. The contemporary consideration of nature as a quasi-divine reality has brought to light old conceptions of nature as a deific reality, which give rise to a different weave. In order to show that our concept of nature is constituted by this entangled bundle of discourses, references, and interests, I will make a critical reading of the theses of the British philosopher M. Budd. Finally, I will propose a reading of the Eckhartian concept of Gelassenheit in order to understand the role that this divinized nature plays in the contemporary imaginary, which requires us to abstain from any intervention in order to achieve a pure contemplation.
Copyright (c) 2024 Nature & Freedom. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Puig, M.A. (2021): Resetea tu mente. Madrid: Espasa, 224 pp., ISBN 978-84-670-6204-5
Copyright (c) 2024 Nature & Freedom. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0