#1134 Norbert Peeters: Botanic Philosophy, von Humboldt, Darwin, and Why Plants Matter

Aug 8, 2025

Norbert Peeters, a teacher at Wageningen University and a PhD student specializing in wilderness philosophy, dives deep into the intriguing world of botanic philosophy. He explores plant blindness and humanity's changing views on plants, from mere resources to valued life forms. The conversation highlights contributions from Humboldt and Darwin, emphasizing their revolutionary insights in botany. Carnivorous plants also take center stage, showcasing their fascinating survival strategies. The discussion reframes wilderness, encouraging a more nuanced appreciation of plant life and its ecological importance.

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INSIGHT

Darwin's Botany Fueled Experimental Science

Darwin spent decades experimenting with seeds, roots, and plant reproduction at Down House.
His seed buoyancy tests and greenhouse work explained long-distance dispersal and pollination.

INSIGHT

Darwin Revealed Active Plant Behavior

Darwin experimentally proved carnivorous digestion, plant motion, and sensory responses.
He argued roots sense gravity and send signals, showing plants actively interact with environments.

INSIGHT

Wilderness Emerged With Gardening

The concept of wilderness arose once humans created gardens and contrasted cultivated land with the wild.
Peeters traces shifting biblical and Romantic valuations of wild places.

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Norbert Peeters is a teacher at Wageningen University and a PhD student at the Institute for Philosophy at Leiden University. His research is focused on an investigation of the philosophical and historical roots, implicit founding presuppositions and argumentative structure of the concept of wilderness, and its practical application in Dutch wildlife conservation projects. The first part of his dissertation will focus on the historical roots and the philosophical conceptual structure of our current wilderness concept. The second part will take a more practical approach.

In this episode, we talk about botanic philosophy. We first discuss what it is, what a plant is, the concept of plant blindness, and a bit of the history of studying plants. We talk about the work of Alexander von Humboldt and Charles Darwin. We discuss what influenced the way we view the natural world. We explore concepts like wilderness, rewilding, being native, being exotic, and being an invasive species. We discuss plant intelligence, and whether plants have personalities. Finally, we talk about why plants matter.

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