We still follow the definitions of Nature already laid down by Aristotle and Descartes who saw Nature as being delineated from the non-natural (e.g. culture, technology). Schiemann defends the continuing validity of these traditional ways of understanding, but argues that that they prove to be valid only within limited contexts. Depending on the particular context, we apply several concepts of nature, which are simultaneously valid.

Gregor Schiemann is Professor of Philosophy at the Bergischen Universität Wuppertal, Germany.