Theodor W. Adorno, a philosopher of the Frankfurt School, addresses the relationship between nature and culture through a radical critique of modern society and its rationalistic approach. Adorno believes that culture, in modernity, tends to dominate and repress nature, transforming it into an object to be controlled and exploited. This relationship is exemplified in the concept of’dialectic of enlightenment’, discussed together with Max Horkheimer. According to Adorno, the Enlightenment, although it promised human emancipation through reason, paradoxically led to a new form of barbarism. In detail, Adorno considers culture as a manifestation of human alienation from nature, arguing that Enlightenment rationality transforms every aspect of the natural world into something measurable and, therefore, controllable. Adorno therefore proposes a reflection on the possibility of a reconciliation between nature and culture, so that this reconciliation passes through the critique of the categories of understanding with which culture itself understands and manipulates nature. Art and aesthetic abstraction are configured as possible moments of such reconciliation, capable of resisting the logic of absorption and destruction of nature. These reflections are fundamental to understanding Adorno’s theories on aesthetics, mass culture and the critique of contemporary society.



Nature and Culture from the Post-War Period to Today
The dialectic between nature and culture has been a crucial pivot in philosophical debates since Theodor W. Adorno, evolving substantially under the influence of movements such as post-structuralism and ecocritical theory. Adorno, along with Horkheimer, explored this tension in the context of the dialectic of the Enlightenment, associating the domination of nature with the rise of Western rationality and industrialized culture. Decades later, this view has been revisited and often criticized. The late twentieth century saw the emergence of post-structuralist theorists such as Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida who, while not primarily focusing on nature, have blurred the boundaries between nature and culture through discourse analysis and deconstruction. More recently, ecocriticism and theories of post-humanism, proposed by thinkers such as Donna Haraway and Bruno Latour, have further blurred the distinction, suggesting a more inclusive and less anthropocentric vision of the environment. Haraway, with her concepts of cyborgs and companion species, and Latour, through his actor-network theory, have contributed to a new paradigm in which the categories of’nature’ and’culture’ are seen as in permanent negotiation and mutual influence, proposing a co-evolution between humans, non-humans, and technology..

Nature and Culture: Between Adorno and Modern Visions
Theodor W. Adorno, one of the leading exponents of the Frankfurt School, elaborates a critical vision of the relationship between nature and culture, imbued with negative dialectics. Adorno sees nature not as something pure and uncontaminated, but as intrinsically mediated by human culture. Nature, for Adorno, is continuously modified and re-interpretable through the lenses of society and its mechanisms of power and domination. His theory suggests that we cannot access an authentic’nature’ free from human influence, since it is always already a cultural construct. In contrast to more optimistic modern interpretations, which often promote a romantic return to nature or a harmonious fusion of technological progress and ecological conservation, Adorno maintains a critical position on the inability of modern culture to transform the domination over nature into a true respect and understanding of it. Contemporary visions tend to be more pragmatic and focused on sustainable solutions, aiming for a balanced coexistence between man and the environment, often through the integration of technology and green innovation. This modern approach can be seen as an attempt to resolve the dilemmas posed by Adorno, seeking that synergy between nature and culture that can avoid alienation and environmental destruction..

Green Philosophy: The Dialogue Between Nature and Culture
In contemporary times, environmental issues and sustainability have become central to the philosophical debate on the relationship between nature and culture. The growing interest in ecology has led philosophers such as Bruno Latour and Timothy Morton to redefine the concept of nature, considering it no longer as a mere resource available to man, but as an active entity that constantly interacts with culture. This new perspective, known as’ecology of thoughts’, argues that the ecological crisis is a crisis of perception and values, which calls for a profound reflection on how humans see and treat the non-human world. Latour, in particular, criticizes the ancient dichotomy between subject and object, proposing a more symmetrical approach in which humans and non-humans are seen as active participants in dynamic networks of relationships. Morton, for his part, introduces the concept of’ecological dark thought’, which invites us to recognize the intimate connection between all forms of life and to reflect on coexistence on a psychologically interconnected planet. These theories shift the focus from human domination to interspecies collaboration, integrating environmental ethics into everyday life and influencing sustainable policies.. The inclusion of these reflections in the philosophical dialogue broadens the understanding of’culture’ to include sustainable practices and respect for biodiversity, proposing a new model of civilization that is in harmony with our natural environment.

Nature and Culture: Intersections and Perspectives
The nature-culture debate is articulated through different currents of thought that explore how these two realms influence each other. The nature-culture dualism, rooted in Western thought, has been questioned by various anthropologists such as Claude Lévi-Strauss, who highlighted how the structures of the human mind (nature) shape cultures, and vice versa. More recently, post-structural thought, with figures such as Michel Foucault, has explored how cultural knowledge and practices shape the perception of nature, arguing that’nature’ is often a cultural construct. In the ecological context, Bruno Latour’s actor-network theory has re-visualized the relationship, suggesting that humans and non-humans (nature) form complex networks that influence cultural and political decisions. Future perspectives in this field indicate a greater interest in deep ecology and posthumanism, which promote a closer and more respectful integration between human culture and natural systems, challenging anthropocentrism and reworking the boundaries between nature and culture.. We look forward to an era in which sustainability and symbiosis are an integral part of our way of living and thinking, reflecting a cultural maturation that recognizes and respects the profound interdependence with the natural world..

.