From “Plant Blindness” to the “Plant Revolution”

The essay examines the dynamics currently at work within Western culture that are en-
abling, both at scientific and philosophical levels, a potential end to what might be termed
a “plant blindness”, and that could pave the way for a genuine “plant revolution”. After
outlining this blindness from multiple perspectives – ontological, epistemological, phenom-
enological, historical-cultural, and ethical – the essay shows a careful interpretation of re-
cent research findings may foster a more nuanced understanding of the vegetal world. Such
an understanding could challenge prevailing anthropocentric, hierarchical, and zoocentric
frameworks that persist, often in the form of implicit biases.