Our faculty member from the Department of Political Science and International Relations, Assist. Prof. Stephen Siu Kay On, attended the Western Political Science Association 2025 Annual Meeting (WPSA) held in Seattle, Washington, from April 17-19, 2025. On presented his work titled "God's Creatures and Daoist Nature" at the panel on "Critical Ecology."
In his presentation, On discussed the concept of "God's Creatures" from John Locke's "Second Treatise of Government" and the moral responsibility of humans towards nature, emphasizing that this concept provides significant insights into the metaphysical relationship between humanity and nature. He also discussed the Daoist understanding of nature and how these philosophical sources can be utilized in addressing ecological crises.
Assist. Prof. On expressed his belief that a deeper understanding of the interdependence between humans and nature would significantly contribute to more effective solutions to environmental issues. Comparisons of ideas with other academics attending the conference opened the door to developing new thoughts and perspectives on environmental justice and ecological crises.
This year's conference hosted in-depth discussions on environmental political theory, ecological crises, and global policies, bringing together numerous academics and experts from various countries around the world.
