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Degrowth: An Experience of Being Finite
Degrowth is an experience. It is about fathoming that being-in-nature is finite. Experiencing finitude offers the long-awaited theoretical foundation for the degrowth movement.
In this book, Pasi Heikkurinen argues that we must understand limits 'from within' in order to effectively reduce matter-energy throughput. He coins the metabolic cutback as the minimalist definition of degrowth. He also provides a lucid critique on how technology, transformations, and nature are perceived in cultures of growth.
To overcome the shortfalls of our perception, experiential notions of releasement, metamorphosis, and the core of nature are propounded. Heikkurinen calls for a collective experience of degrowing in practice while avoiding over-inclusive rhetoric.
In this book, Pasi Heikkurinen argues that we must understand limits 'from within' in order to effectively reduce matter-energy throughput. He coins the metabolic cutback as the minimalist definition of degrowth. He also provides a lucid critique on how technology, transformations, and nature are perceived in cultures of growth.
To overcome the shortfalls of our perception, experiential notions of releasement, metamorphosis, and the core of nature are propounded. Heikkurinen calls for a collective experience of degrowing in practice while avoiding over-inclusive rhetoric.
158 pages, Paperback
Published May 6, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 25, 2026
Really great read!
Very clear and digestible for an academic book. While it does use lots of technical language, all jargon is clearly defined, and key points are constantly rephrased and clarified.
Great summary and synthesis of the major philosophies identified behind degrowth discourse.
Chapter 6 (temporal framings around how we ‘distance ourselves from the core of nature’) felt shaky and incomplete — but the preceding chapters (about Nietzschean will-to-power / will-to-transform and Heidigerrean releasement) were pretty airtight and very neatly structured.
Pleasantly realistic and open-minded tone! While exploring some pretty removed philosophical themes, it always re-centred on practical routes to degrowth and being.
Did not feel absolutist or die hard committed to any particular abstract theory.
Very clear and digestible for an academic book. While it does use lots of technical language, all jargon is clearly defined, and key points are constantly rephrased and clarified.
Great summary and synthesis of the major philosophies identified behind degrowth discourse.
Chapter 6 (temporal framings around how we ‘distance ourselves from the core of nature’) felt shaky and incomplete — but the preceding chapters (about Nietzschean will-to-power / will-to-transform and Heidigerrean releasement) were pretty airtight and very neatly structured.
Pleasantly realistic and open-minded tone! While exploring some pretty removed philosophical themes, it always re-centred on practical routes to degrowth and being.
Did not feel absolutist or die hard committed to any particular abstract theory.
June 9, 2025
Ok- Lots of thoughts and questions
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews