Lecture 1: Growing the Plant Humanities

Growing the Plant Humanities

Jon L. Pitt

  • Affiliation: Associate Professor of East Asian Studies, Director of the Environmental Humanities Research Center, UC Santa Cruz.

  • Background: First Generation College Graduate

  • Publications:

    • Botanical Imagination: Rethinking Plants in Modern Japan (2025, Cornell University Press)

    • Hiromi Ito: Tree Spirits Grass Spirits (2023, Nightboat Books)

Focus on Plants in Humanities

Introduction

  • Main Theme: The lecture emphasizes the interplay between plant life and human existence, a concept termed "entanglement."

  • Personal Reflection: Jon Pitt grows passion-fruit vines which encapsulate the literal and metaphorical idea of entanglement.

    • Literal Example: Vines tangling with other plants, supporting some while choking others.

    • Metaphorical Example: The time and effort dedicated to tending these vines highlights a deeper entanglement with plant life, suggesting that human existence is intertwined with that of plants.

  • Underrepresentation in Humanities: Despite the ubiquitous presence of plants, they are often neglected in academic discussions.

    • Statistic: Plants account for 80% of all biomass on Earth (Pennisi).

Critical Plant Studies

Key Texts and Theories

  • LEVENOMOT and the Green Knight: Chapter Twelve represents critical discussions of environmental humanities.

  • "Entanglement": A recurring motif linking environment and human activity in literature and philosophy.

Experimentation with Plants

Example: Mimosa pudica (Sensitive Plant)

  • Description: Also known as pua hila hila in Hawaiian.

  • Reactions: The plant's leaves respond to touch, demonstrating awareness of stimuli in its environment.

Research by Monica Gagliano

  • Study Focus: Investigated response patterns in mimosa plants subjected to repeated stimulus of drops.

  • Findings: Mimosas learned to ignore the dropping stimulus after several repetitions, suggesting a memory-like quality without a brain.

  • Conclusion from Gagliano: Traditional definitions of learning may be too restrictive; plants can also exhibit learning-like behavior under specific conditions.

The Philosophy of Plant-Thinking

Definition of Plant-Thinking

  • Concept: Refers to various facets of interaction between plants and human cognition.

  1. How plants themselves think (non-cognitive, non-ideational).

  2. How humans think about plants.

  3. The ways human cognition can become plant-like.

  4. The mutual entanglement in processes of thinking.

Broader Implications

  • Lessons from Plants: Humans can learn environmental awareness and adaptive strategies from plants.

    • Analogy: A bean seedling's detection of light and nutrient absorption parallels human need for awareness of changing circumstances and intentional reflection on environmental conditions.

Quotes Reflecting Philosophical Contexts

  • Self-Reflection: "One of the greatest lessons I have learned in this regard is the importance of intentional self-reflection" (p.30).

  • Communion with Nature: "When I linger with plants, I find myself thus in communion with everything they are and live with" (p.158).

Cultural Perspectives on Plants

The Secret Life of Plants

  • Content Overview: Explores the emotional and spiritual connections between humans and plants.

  • Critical Analysis: Despite being discredited scientifically, the book bears cultural significance that merits examination in humanities research.

  • Impact: The text has influenced generations, raising questions regarding botanical potential in cultural studies.

The Role of Plant Humanities Lab

  • Objective: To promote a multidisciplinary approach toward the understanding of plants in human culture.

  • Focus Areas: Food, medicine, environmental ethics, and the impact of colonialism and climate change on plant-human dynamics.

Conclusion

  • Significance of Plant Humanities: Engaging with plant studies opens avenues for richer understanding of human existence, our values, and the environment we inhabit.

  • Overall Vision: Through plant humanities, the notion of entanglement is not merely a metaphor, but a real, actionable framework for addressing contemporary environmental and cultural issues.