Verweven levens. Verbeelding van het onvoorstelbare in klimaatliteratuur

Abstract

In Entangled Life (2020), biologist Merlin Sheldrake describes “the hidden world of fungi”. With stories about unknown processes and life forms, which become reality on the basis of scientific evidence, Sheldrake evokes amazement and wonder. In his use of metaphors, Sheldrake makes connections between concepts that normally seem unrelated. This combination encourages us to question entrenched ideas. Concrete metaphors help to form a more vivid picture of the versatility of fungi and to illustrate the scale of time and space we are confronted with due to climate issues. Through personification, Sheldrake encourages the reader to empathise with fungi. This stimulates an emotional connection with fungi. All of this encourages the reader to expand their imagination. What initially seemed unimaginable becomes closer and more conceivable because it is connected to something we know.