Habitability: A Sociological Concept? Constellations of Habitability in the Anthropocene from a Theory of Society Perspective. An Intercultural Positioning

• Applicant: Dr. Martin Repohl
• Subject Area: Sociological Theory
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 573183165

The project aims to systematically explore the term "habitability" as a key concept for an expanded social theory in the Anthropocene. The concept of planetary habitability, originally rooted in earth and climate sciences, is gaining interdisciplinary relevance. Current scientific findings demonstrate that habitability is not solely determined by geophysical factors; rather, it is a co-productive result of the relationships between living beings and their environment. These relationships extend into the formation of social order. This brings the question of the prerequisites and conditions for habitability into the focus of social science. This is particularly relevant to the role of non-human entities, ecological processes, and biological symbioses in the formation of society. In the context of global environmental change, habitability in the Anthropocene cannot be taken for granted. Rather, it must be understood as an emergent result of relational interdependencies between human and non-human actors. The systematic analysis of these interdependencies is a central goal of contemporary social theory. This project focuses on how to conceptualize habitability from a sociological perspective and which entities, processes, and relational constellations to consider. It also explores the theoretical implications for sustainability, interculturality, and the role of sociology in the Anthropocene. The project has three central objectives: First, the analytical object addressed under habitability will be specified in terms of social theory. Second, the phenomena, actors, and relational constellations associated with the concept will be differentiated and typologized. Third, the social-theoretical potential of the term will be elaborated on, especially with regard to overcoming the eurocentric and anthropocentric limitations of traditional theoretical approaches. Therefore, the Japanese concept of fudo is central to this discussion: Fudo describes an elaborate theory of habitability operating with an expanded concept of society that transcends the eurocentric nature/culture distinction. However, it has been overlooked in local debates thus far. Thus, the project addresses a double desideratum in social theory, opening up an intercultural sociological dialogue in the context of the Anthropocene to take into account alternative understandings of nature, society, and subjectivity. The goal is to develop a theoretical approach that captures the concept of habitability as a relational, socially constituted quality and analyzes it in a differentiated manner. This approach will open up the possibility of an interculturally expanded sociology of planetary coexistence.

• DFG Programme: WBP Fellowship
• International Connection: Japan
• Host: Professor Dr. Daniel Niles