Theorizations of and reflections on the Anthropocene and polycrisis have made us aware that contemporary biopolitics include the ways in which human activity is impacting the complex web of all life on Earth. In such a more-than-human perspective, the concept of hospitality, which involves recognizing the inherent worth and value of ‘others’, refers to the ways in which we interact with and provide support and care for living beings and the natural environment. This involves recognizing the deep entanglements of all forms of life, and acting in ways that support and nurture planetary health and well-being. In this article, I show how considering hospitality at multiple analytical scales – moving it up, down and sideways – brings us closer to its core meaning. The principles of hospitality can be a foundation for planetary conviviality, or the idea of establishing a mutually beneficial and environmentally responsible association between the human species and the remaining ecosystems on Earth. While hospitality involves recognizing that we are all part of a larger community and that our actions have an impact on all beings, planetary conviviality takes this idea one step further by recognizing that the health and well-being of the natural world is essential for our own survival and prosperity.
Noël B. Salazar (Sun,) studied this question.