부산대학교 도서관

Humanity is overwhelmingly in denial about the 'biological annihilation' facing the other species on the planet, heirs to a 13.8 billion year shared history. This paper argues that these questions can be addressed through action research, an ethical research practice, focused on issues of pressing concern to humans and the ecological communities of which they are part. At the heart of the paper is a story, which takes the reader on the author's 20-year journey to cross a threshold into empathy with the more-than-human world. The story is presented as a worked example of a first person practice demonstrating how, in the face of denial within us all, it is possible to stop, bear witness and to seek positive outcomes. Located within action research and its qualities, the characteristics of bearing witness are explored, resulting in a potential definition, description and critical appreciation. Finally the paper argues that first person inquiry into bearing witness needs to become a bedrock for practice across society and offers recommendations for how this might be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]