Knowledge and the construction of meaning in Estonian forest poetry
An environmental scientist’s perspective
Keywords: epistemology, Estonian poetry, experiential knowledge, forest ecology, human–nature relationships
Estonia is a forested country, and trees and forests are depicted in Estonian poetry in diverse ways. From a neo-cognitivist perspective, this study examines two forms of knowledge with the broader aim of understanding how knowledge about human–nature relations is created, shaped, and transmitted. The material comprises 235 poetic texts by 71 authors, recently compiled in an anthology of Estonian forest poetry (Kareva 2024). I address two main questions: (1) What scientific (propositional) knowledge of nature is reflected in forest poetry, and how is it represented? (2) What recurring experiences or imaginaries, understood as forms of non-propositional knowledge, might be addressed scientifically but have so far remained external to it (the “object of experience” concept)?
My results support the view that knowledge circulates bidirectionally between science and art. The texts consistently reflect an ecological understanding of the forest as a biodiverse and temporally dynamic ecosystem. While conveying experiential nuance, forest poetry strongly generalizes natural objects, places, and time, focusing on the present and past (the latter contrasts with the futures-oriented focus of environmental research). Aspects of landscape ecology are notably absent: poetically, the Estonian forest appears continuous and vast, and when damaged, it tends to vanish altogether. Estonian poetry operates with an estimated maximum of 200 native taxon names, representing approximately 1% of actual biodiversity. A poetic “optimization” is evident: less familiar taxa are represented more generically than better known ones, such as vascular plants, mammals, and birds.
Of the eight proposed objects of experience, forest silence, intrinsic value of nature, and rewilding are well represented. Trees are accorded special (often individual and sacred) status, implying a cultural basis for possible subject rights of the forest. Experiences such as curiosity, discovery, and place-specificity are less prominent. Thus, the primary mental value of the forest is recreational and aesthetic: it restores opportunities to experience a space where the lyrical self encounters nonhuman others.
Asko Lõhmus (b. 1974), PhD, University of Tartu, Professor of Conservation Biology (J. Liivi 2, 50409 Tartu), asko.lohmus@ut.ee
References
Aumann, Antony 2023. Art, imagination, and experiential knowledge. – Synthese, kd 201, art 100. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-023-04109-2
Chapron, Guillaume; Epstein, Yaffa; López-Bao, José Vicente 2019. A rights revolution for nature. – Science, kd 363, nr 6434, lk 1392–1393.
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aav5601
Culler, Jonathan D. 2015. Theory of the Lyric. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Evans, Nicole Marie 2023. Trauma-informed environmental education: Helping students feel safe and connected in nature. – The Journal of Environmental Education, kd 54, nr 2, lk 85–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2022.2163220
Fudge, Erica 2002. Animal. London: Reaktion Books.
Fukano, Yuya; Soga, Masashi 2025. The biophilia hypothesis revisited: Back to basics, moving forward. – Trends in Ecology & Evolution, kd 40, nr 6, lk 527–528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2025.04.001
Geuss, Raymond 2003. Poetry and knowledge. – Arion: A Journal of Humanities and the Classics, kd 11, nr 1, lk 1–31.
Gibson, John 2008. Cognitivism and the arts. – Philosophy Compass, kd 3, nr 4, lk 573–589. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-9991.2008.00144.x
Ingold, Tim 2022. The Perception of the Environment: Essays on Livelihood, Dwelling and Skill. London–New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003196662
Jonuks, Tõnno; Remmel, Atko 2020. Metsarahva kujunemine. – Keel ja Kirjandus, nr 6, lk 459–482. https://doi.org/10.54013/kk751a1
Jüssi, Fred 1986. Jäälõhkuja. Tallinn: Valgus.
Kangro, Bernard 2008. Sütevakk südames. Koost Karl Muru. Tallinn: Tänapäev.
Kaplinski, Jaan 2004. Mis on luule? – J. Kaplinski, Kõik on ime. (Eesti mõttelugu 55.) Koost Thomas Salumets. Tartu: Ilmamaa, lk 308–325.
Kareva, Doris (koost) 2024. Südames laulavad metsad. Eesti metsaluule antoloogia. (Hingesalv.) Tallinn: Salv.
Kepp, Õnne 2024. Mets ja metsamõte klassikalises eesti lüürikas. – Õ. Kepp, Maalt ja mere tagant. Kirjatöid aastatest 1982–2022. Tallinn: EKSA, lk 423–442.
Lõhmus, Asko 2006. Kas elupaikade säilitamine künnisväärtuste ulatuses on hea kompromiss? Teooria ja näiteid Eesti metsandusest. – Loodushoiu majandushoovad. Kaasaegse ökoloogia probleemid 10. Toim Toomas Frey. Tartu: Eesti Ökoloogiakogu, lk 96–102.
Lõhmus, Asko 2025. Inimese ja looduse suhte mõtestamine esseistikas. Funktsionaalne vaade eesti esseistikale. – Keel ja Kirjandus, nr 4, lk 311–337.
https://doi.org/10.54013/kk808a3
Lõhmus, Asko; Soon, Mihkel 2004. Katusliigid bioloogilist mitmekesisust säästvas metsanduses: kriitiline ülevaade ja perspektiivid Eestis. – Metsanduslikud uurimused, kd 41, lk 73–85.
Lõo, Jaan 1989 [1916]. Kodumaa metsad. – Sõnarine. Eesti luule antoloogia. 1. kd. Koost Karl Muru. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, lk 483.
Masterson, Vanessa A.; Stedman, Richard C.; Enqvist, Johan P.; Tengö, Maria; Giusti, Matteo; Wahl, Darin; Svedin, Uno 2017. The contribution of sense of place to social-ecological systems research: A review and research agenda. – Ecology and Society, kd 22, nr 1, art 49. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-08872-220149
McKinnon, David 2013. Dead silence: Ecological silencing and environmentally engaged sound art. – Leonardo Music Journal, kd 23, lk 71–74.
https://doi.org/10.1162/LMJ_a_00158
Merleau-Ponty, Maurice 2019. Taju fenomenoloogia. (Avatud Eesti raamat.) Tlk Mirjam Lepikult. Tartu: Ilmamaa.
Mihkelev, Anneli 2006. How do places speak in poetry? – Koht ja paik. Place and Location. (Studies in Environmental Aesthetics and Semiotics V.) Toim Eva Näripea, Virve Sarapik, Jaak Tomberg. Tallinn: Eesti Kirjandusmuuseumi kultuuri ja kirjandusteooria töörühm, lk 301–315.
Mikita, Valdur 2017. Kukeseene kuulamise kunst. Läänemeresoome elutunnet otsimas. Vara: Välgi metsad.
Mikkonen, Jukka 2015. On studying the cognitive value of literature. – The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, kd 73, nr 3, lk 273–282.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jaac.12172
Moran, Dermot 2026. Habit, sedimentation, tradition: The hidden influence of history in shaping our lives: A Husserlian account. – Continental Philosophy Review, kd 59, lk 441–461. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11007-026-09726-5
Mäger, Mart 1969. Linnud rahva keeles ja meeles. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat.
Nakawake, Yo; Sato, Kosuke 2019. Systematic quantitative analyses reveal the folk-zoological knowledge embedded in folktales. – Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, kd 5, art 161. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-019-0375-x
Piiper, Johannes 1975. Pilte ja hääli Eesti loodusest. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat.
Puolakka, Kalle 2022. Learning from literary experience. – Journal of Aesthetic Education, kd 56, nr 1, lk 56–73. https://doi.org/10.5406/15437809.56.1.04
Raudsepp, Maaris 2007. Metsa kodustamine: tähenduse konstrueerimise tasandid ja aspektid eestlaste loodusesuhte näitel. – Interdistsiplinaarsus sotsiaalteadustes. Eesti sotsiaalteaduste VI aastakonverents. 4.–5. november 2005 Tallinna Ülikoolis. Artiklite kogumik. II kd. Koost Aleksander Pulver. Tallinn: Tallinna Ülikooli Kirjastus, lk 208−221.
Remm, Jane 2022. The Estonian forest from the painter’s viewpoint. – The Northern Forest. La forêt nordique. (Isberg.) Toim Sara Bédard-Goulet, Daniel Chartier. Montréal: Imaginaire | Nord; Tartu: Tartu Ülikooli Kirjastus, lk 281–308.
Rinne, Jenni 2021. Affective place experiences and landscape meanings among Estonian native faith practitioners. – Ethnologia Scandinavica, kd 51, lk 61–80.
Sax, Boria 2023. Enchanted Forests: The Poetic Construction of a World Before Time. London: Reaktion Books.
Schraml, Ulrich; Detten, Roderich v. 2009. Forestry or „the art of flying blind”. Sustainability in an era of global change. – Sustainable Forest Management in a Changing World: A European Perspective. (Managing Forest Ecosystems.) Toim Peter Spathelf. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, lk 217–235. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3301-7_13
Simecek, Karen 2022. Linking perspectives: A role for poetry in philosophical inquiry. – Metaphilosophy, kd 53, nr 2–3, lk 305–318. https://doi.org/10.1111/meta.12544
Soovik, Ene-Reet 2022. The Estonian forest and poetic scrutiny: Jaan Kaplinski’s walks through the forest. – The Northern Forest. La forêt nordique. (Isberg.) Toim Sara Bédard-Goulet, Daniel Chartier. Montréal: Imaginaire | Nord; Tartu: Tartu Ülikooli Kirjastus, lk 233–255.
Suuman, Aleksander 1975. Maa paistel. Riime ja rütme 1971–1973. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat.
Timm, Simon Christopher 2016. Moral intuition or moral disengagement? Cognitive science weighs in on the animal ethics debate. – Neuroethics, kd 9, lk 225–234. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12152-016-9271-x
Under, Marie 1958. Kogutud luuletused. [Stockholm:] Vaba Eesti.
Undusk, Jaan 1998. Maagiline müstiline keel. (Oxymora 2.) Tallinn: Underi ja Tuglase Kirjanduskeskus.
Vainio, Kaisa; Korrensalo, Aino; Takala, Tuomo; Räsänen, Aleksi; Lummaa, Karoliina; Tuittila, Eeva-Stiina 2024. Do you have a tree friend? Human–tree relationships in Finland. – People and Nature, kd 6, nr 2, lk 646–659.
https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10593
Valsiner, Jaan 2021. Teejuht kultuuripsühholoogiasse. Tlk Triin Kallas, Tanel Mällo. (Gigantum humeris.) Tallinn: TLÜ Kirjastus.
Vilbaste, Gustav 1993. Eesti taimenimetused. (Emakeele Seltsi toimetised 20 (67).) Tallinn: Eesti Teaduste Akadeemia.
Väljataga, Märt 2009. Luule- ja pärislugude eristus teoorias ja praktikas II. – Keel ja Kirjandus, nr 7, lk 505–525.
Wilson, Edward O. 1984. Biophilia: The Human Bond with Other Species. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Õnnepalu, Tõnu 2026. Raudteelill. Floristilisi märkmeid eesti luulest. – Hortus poeticus. Valimik eesti taimeluulet. Koost Urve Sinijärv, Karl Martin Sinijärv. Tallinn: Varrak, lk 313–324.