On the Ground

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This bold, theoretical, and pragmatic work examines soil as a symbol for hope and political action in the Anthropocene. Climate change is already affecting our interconnected ecosystems, with its impacts felt unevenly across the nearly 8 billion inhabitants of Earth. The text delves into the paradoxes between planetarity and particularity, connectivity and contextuality, entanglement and exclusion. By interpreting “ground” as earth and soil, the author suggests that it symbolizes the collective yet localized effects of climate change, emphasizing both communal and differential experiences. This perspective leads to critical insights on hope and political action during climate crises. Drawing on soil science, theopoetics, feminist ethics, poststructuralism, and process philosophy, the work explores how to theorize shared yet distinct experiences in the face of global climate catastrophe. It questions how to conceptualize interconnectedness without overlooking vital differences in social and ecological contexts. The book seeks to inspire pluralistic, anti-racist planetary politics amid the Anthropocene. Ultimately, it aims to root us in a robust theoretical symbol that can foster intersectional responses to climate change and re-imagine forms of planetary politics.