Learning to notice and love in a multispecies world

Abstract

For several years we have dedicated our- selves to find strategies in order to change world perspectives by “noticing” so many ways of life of more than humans and world- ing with them. With this aim we have been working with pupils, students, educators, re- searchers, and others. It began by following the “delicate empiricism” of J. W. Goethe. Through this method we venture to live di- rect, sensitive and affective experiences in different outdoor places; we treasure the time and the continuity of experiences and assign their meaning, stimulating the use of different languages in raising short stories. Through these multiple stories we can no- tice and attend the transformations of each one in these processes. The voices of Mi- chel Serres, Anna Tsing, Natasha Myers and Carla Hustak, Vinciane Despret, Donna Ha- raway, Isabelle Stengers, among many oth- ers, have helped us to weave the narrative that we bring here. In this narrative made together with the short stories mentioned before, perception and sensibility come to- gether with other forms of knowledge; with them we may develop an ethical and affec- tive commitment. A new model of knowledge is ongoing, as Tsing states; its fundamental characteristic is multispecies love. Our narrative includes fragments of mak- ing-world projects; discoveries of “abun- dance of reality” in the most unexpected places, both in semi-natural and in urban affection and care beyond species lines.