932015 The inner dimension of sustainability: the role of values, emotions and world views

Type
Lecture and exercise
Semester hours
2
Lecturer (assistant)
Zollitsch, Werner , Buchebner, Julia
Organisation
Offered in
Sommersemester 2025
Languages of instruction
Deutsch
Content

Humanity is facing increasingly complex environmental and social challenges. However, the current problem-solving strategies (political, economic, scientific) do not seem to be sufficient to master these challenges and bring about a fundamental, transformative change towards a more sustainable future. Against this background, the concept of the "inner dimension of sustainability" has emerged as a new research area. The inner dimension of sustainability encompasses and describes necessary changes in human consciousness, which become visible in the form of values, believes, attitudes, world views and in the way how we deal with emotions. These inner factors are considered to be a central leverage point for sustainable development, because they influence the way people think about economic, social and ecological crises and how they react to them.
In this course, we will explore this inner dimension of sustainability both on the theoretical and practical level (see teaching and learning methods).
In the theory units, we will examine various concepts and theories from value research, empathy research and mindfulness research and critically reflect on their contribution to sustainable development (e.g. ecological mindfulness, subjective well-being, global identity, empathy and altruism, values and worldviews, sustainable behaviour, human-nature-connection). In the experimental, practical week, we will use various methods and exercises from the areas of mindfulness, education for sustainable development, transformative learning, nature experience, community building, and much more. The effects of these exercises and experiences on one's own thinking, feeling and acting will be reflected and discussed in-group.
Previous knowledge expected

No previous knowledge is necessary, but an interest in the topic of sustainability as well as an openness and willingness to dive into your own internal processes and to question yourself critically are essential!
Objective (expected results of study and acquired competences)

The overall aim of the course is to create an understanding of the complex relationships between internal transformation and sustainability (in theory and practice).
After the course, students will be able to:
-Critically reflect and evaluate the potential role of internal factors for sustainability and sustainability sciences
-Analyze sustainability challenges and problems on a holistic and systemic level
-Understand, analyze and evaluate scientific concepts at the interface of internal transformation and sustainability
-Assess the requirements for transformative learning settings in the context of sustainable development
-Apply mindfulness-based methods in their own life
-Better understand and reflect their own personal sustainability behaviour and identify starting points for their own sustainability engagement
You can find more details like the schedule or information about exams on the course-page in BOKUonline.