Dr Jukka Mikkonen

Researcher
Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy
University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Title of Docent (Philosophy)
History, Philosophy and Literary Studies
Tampere University, Finland

jukka.mikkonen [at] protonmail.com

About me

I study environmental aesthetics, the aesthetics of nature in particular. At the moment, I am working on aesthetic aspects in environmentalism.

Before joining the University of Jyväskylä, I worked at the universities of Tampere and Helsinki. In addition, I have been a visiting scholar at the University of Warwick, the University of York (UK), Harvard University, and the University of Parma.

Recent publications

‘Traditional Ecological Knowledge and the Aesthetic Appreciation of Nature: Lessons from Gilbbesjávri and Guovdageaidnu’. Environmental Values 14 March 2025.

For several decades, there has been interest in traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in ecological research and conservation. Traditional knowledge and practices are recognized as essential for understanding sustainable uses of natural resources and for developing enduring eco-social policies and cross-cultural conservation ethics. In addition, there has been a growing effort in environmental policy to recognize aesthetic and spiritual values that indigenous peoples attribute to nature. In philosophy, some Western aestheticians have turned their attention to aesthetic diversity and initiated cross-cultural approaches. Nonetheless, environmental aestheticians have so far paid little attention to the potential of TEK in nature appreciation. In this article, I examine Sámi notions of landscape, the environmental knowledge of Sámi reindeer herders, and their appreciation of what is commonly referred to as the natural environment. I challenge scientific cognitivism, arguing that Sámi TEK employs perceptual categories that could provide the basis for a robust ‘cognitivist’ approach and, furthermore, that Sámi appreciation of nature exemplifies a unified view that Allen Carlson called for in his late work. However, I also argue that for cultural outsiders, acquiring TEK is fraught with epistemic and ethical challenges and requires humility and diligence.

‘Aesthetics in Biodiversity Conservation’ (w/ Kaisa J. Raatikainen). The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 8 June 2024.

Biodiversity loss is an immense ecological crisis of our time. But while “biodiversity” has become a buzzword in media and policy, conservationists have found it difficult to build a common understanding on the nature and severity of biodiversity loss and the means to tackle it. Perhaps surprisingly, many biologists and philosophers have proposed that biodiversity might be best defended with reference to its aesthetic value. This article explores whether aesthetic values could provide strong support for biodiversity conservation. By exploring the question from the viewpoints of species diversity, ecosystem diversity, and genetic diversity, we argue that there is a mismatch between apparent and real biodiversity and that aesthetics can give a limited support for biodiversity conservation at best.

Article & book proposal refereeing

Acta Analytica, Apparatus, Bloomsbury, British Journal for Aesthetics, Cambridge Journal of Education, Dialogue: The Canadian Philosophical Review, Environmental Values, Estetika: The European Journal of Aesthetics, International Journal of Philosophical Studies, Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, Journal of Aesthetics and Phenomenology, Journal of the American Philosophical Association, Mind, Mind & Language, Nature and Culture, Open Book Publishers, People and Nature, Philosophical Quarterly, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, Poetics Today, Res Philosophica, Routledge, Southern Journal of Philosophy, Teorema, &c.

Other

Academia.edu profile
PhilPapers profile
ResearchGate profile
ORCID: 0000-0003-0436-8526

Page last updated: 9 April 2025.