By David Rothenberg
Philosopher and composer David Rothenberg tells of his friendship with Arne Naess, and particularly his gentle way of dealing with critics. Yet, exactly because of his attitude of welcoming all kind of views, many philosophers, according to Rothenberg, found him too vague and too cordial to viewpoints that were not his own. In this text, published in 2010 – a year after Naess’s passing – Rothenberg also addresses the environmental crisis as it is manifesting itself in the 21st century, and states that while deep ecology may have begun as a concern for wild nature and wilderness by only a few, today it is all about preserving hope for human civilization as part of the vast ecosystem that planet Earth comprises.