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The relevance of Uexküll’s Umwelt concept for the modern ecological discourse
The article substantiates the worldview significance of the Umwelt concept introduced by Jakob von Uexküll for the development of strategic imperatives of ecological thinking and of environmental policies. The study lies
at the crossroads of four areas: ecological philosophy, ethics, complex systems theory, and futures studies. Modern futures studies are largely based on a complex system approach demonstrating the multiplicity of images of the
future and possibilities of choosing co-evolutionary paths of man and nature that do not violate the natural balance. Exploring the intersection of these different disciplinary fields provides an interdisciplinary platform for
demonstrating the relevancy of the Umwelt concept for the development of environmental theory, for elaborating a reasonable position in discussions on sustainable development and sustainable futures, as well as on the role of
environmental policy to ensure sustainable development and education reform to inculcate the principles and strategies of ecological ethics (Umwelt ethics).