Postmodern or Postnormal? Are We Farther or Closer to Nature?

The chapter introduces the postmodern movement as a reaction to Modernity, and postnormal times as a transition period from Modernity to a new, yet unknown state. The way this future state will look like depends on what we do now. Postmodern and postnormal are not synonyms, therefore, but have synergies as well as shadowy interfaces. The key reflection of the chapter and of the whole book is about how to proceed in order to allow the emergence of a future state of planetary well-being – a more comprehensive and inclusive type of sustainability than the one limited by modern fences. I describe as exemplary cases the dialogue between science and philosophy with historical visions of wholeness addressed in previous chapters: (1) scientific theories related to the biosphere, Gaia and autopoiesis and (2) the philosophical approaches to ecology, known as ecosophy. In particular, I examine how these two cases often cross in time and space the boundaries between traditional, modern and postmodern worldviews. Finally, I argue that perhaps for this very reason, they can be conducive lines of thought for building dialogues that help regenerate lost connections between self, social and nature.