Hi! I’m Jasper, an independent researcher with a PhD in philosophy.
My favorite philosophers are Merleau-Ponty, Levinas, and Charles Taylor, among others, but first and foremost Helmuth Plessner.
I prefer using their views as frameworks for developing new thought over commenting on their work.
My main interest is nature and our relationship to it.
Lately I’ve been focusing on the question of how physical activities in the outdoors—such as hiking, running, or swimming—make possible experiences of meaning in nature. The result is my new book Philosophy of the Outdoors (SUNY Press). For more, see below.
On a more theoretical level, I’m interested in the relationship between physical reality—the reality of non-living things as they are in themselves—and the phenomenal world, i.e., the world of everyday experience. See my previous book Body and Reality and some of my other publications.
What connects these topics is the role the body plays in our relationship with nature. I use Plessner’s philosophy as a starting point for understanding various aspects of this relationship.
Coming soon...
The hardcover edition will be available in December 2026. The affordable paperback comes out in June 2027.
Integrating both philosophy and outdoor literature, Philosophy of the Outdoors shows how physical activities like hiking, skiiing, or swimming allow us to attune to the specific character of our natural surroundings. In addition, it demonstrates how these activities open up the body to the environment, making us receptive to nature as a source of beauty, value, and meaning.
Get in touch:
Write me at [email protected]
or find my socials on the left
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