
,,Ist das natürlich oder ist da Chemie drin?“ Ansätze zu einer transdisziplinären Verständigung über die ,(Un-)Natürlichkeit‘ der Chemie
In environmental debates, the opinion is often raised that synthetic chemicals are ‘unnatural’. Understanding this claim from a transdisciplinary background is fundamentally important for a productive discourse about the role of chemicals in the environment. This article systemizes different perceptions of the ‘(un-)naturalness’ of chemicals and complements existing research on the distinction between ‘natural’ and ‘artificial’ substances. Furthermore, the importance of chemistry as a technique for reproducing ‘natural’ substances is highlighted and combined with a substance stories approach (German Stoffgeschichten). The article establishes a common ground for transdisciplinary communication about the ‘(un-)naturalness’ of chemicals, which can thereby reduce misunderstandings and prejudices in public debates about chemicals in the environment.
Keywords: artificial; chemicals; chemistry; natural; substance stories; transdisciplinary; unnatural
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: July 15, 2022
GAIA is a peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to inter- and transdisciplinary research on and for sustainability transformations.
Environmental problems cannot be solved by one academic discipline. The complex natures of these problems require cooperation across disciplinary boundaries. Since 1991, GAIA has offered a well-balanced and practice-oriented forum for transdisciplinary research. GAIA offers first-hand information on state of the art environmental research and on current solutions to environmental problems. Well-known editors, advisors, and authors work to ensure the high quality of the contributions found in GAIA and a unique transdisciplinary dialogue – in a comprehensible style.
GAIA is an ISI-journal, listed in the Science Citation Index Expanded, Social Science Citation Index and in Current Contents/Social and Behavioral Sciences.
All contributions undergo a double-blind peer review.- Editorial Board
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