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<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Mon, 24 Jul 1995 03:20:41 -0400
Ann wrote:
Forgive my ignorance: I am new to the list.
What exactly is deep ecology?
Ann
I just wrote a paper on Deep Ecology for a class I am taking and am included
an exerpt here. It's kinda' long, but it explains much about the meaning of
deep ecology:
Although [Rachel] Carson pointed out the futility of anthropocentrism (human
centeredness) in 1962, it took almost a decade for the critique of
anthropocentrism to draw serious attention. The early 1970's marked the rise
of ecophilosophy and deep ecology as professional philosophers began to
promote this new worldview. Deep ecology finally emerged as a full fledged
philosophy in 1973 with Arne Naess, a professor at the University of Oslo.
His paper, "The Shallow and the Deep, Long-Range Ecology Movement," presented
to the Third World Future Research Conference in Bucharest, defined the deep
ecology movement. (Sessions, 1987)
****EDITED*****
In this [today's dominate view of man over nature] worldview, the earth is
seen primarily, if not exclusively, as a collection of natural resources.
Some of these resources are infinite; for those which are limited,
substitutes can be created by technological society. There is an overriding
faith that human civilization will survive. Humans will continue to dominate
nature because humans are above, superior to, or outside the rest of nature.
(1985, p. 43)
The foundations of deep ecology are opposite of the modern worldview. Deep
ecology is based on man's basic intuitions and the experiencing of humans in
nature, forming an ecological consciousness. For deep ecology, the study of
man's place in the earth's "household" includes the study of man as a part of
the organic world. (Sessions & Devall, p. 66)
There are two forms of ecological perspectives that lead to a Deep Ecology
position. Scientific ecology provides theories that explain the
relationships between organisms and their habitats. Alone, the science of
ecology can only provide facts, not feelings. Subversive science builds upon
the facts, seeing that "not only is everything connected with everything
else, but there is a literal intermingling of person and Other, of mind, in
nature. (Devall, 1988, pp. 18-19)
Deep Ecology is inspired by, but not derived from, ecology. As a science,
ecology is objective; it takes no stands. When a person's values are added,
then action occurs because ecology has evolved into Deep Ecology which is a
philosophy, not a science.
Deep Ecology is an ecophilosophy, or a philosophy that uses the basic
concepts of the science of ecology such as complexity, diversity, and
symbiosis, to clarify the place of our species within nature by taking a
holistic view. Within the ecophilosophy, each individual has an ecosophy, or
a personal system/philosophy that a person must reach on their own. Naess
calls for each person to develop his or her own ecosophy based on his or her
own reality. (1989, pp. 3, 5)
He notes that a common problem is that the distinction between the
environmental movement and a deeper philosophy is not realized.
"Philosophizing can be an inspiration and a source of support for the
movement, but no one is claiming it can replace practical action...." (1989,
p. 15)
Naess defines the shallow ecology movement as reform environmentalism.
Shallow ecology revolves around the health and affluence of people in the
developed countries. The practical application of shallow ecology is the
fight against pollution and resource depletion for the sake of mankind.
The Deep Ecology movement is based on seven tenets as defined by Naess:
(1) Deep Ecology rejects the man-in-environment image in favor of an image
based on the relationships between all factors in the environment.
(2) Deep ecology practices a "biospherical egalitarianism," a respect for all
ways and forms of life.
(3) Deep Ecology holds onto the principles of diversity. Diversity "enhances
the potentialities of survival, the chances of new modes of life, [and] the
richness of forms." Deep Ecology is the idea of "live and let life," not
"either your or me."
(4) Deep Ecology holds an anti-class posture. While diversity is
commendable, it does not support the exploitation and suppression of others
by dominant, more powerful groups.
(5) Deep Ecology shares one trait with shallow ecology; that is, Deep Ecology
fights against pollution and resource depletion.
(6) Deep Ecology looks for complexity as opposed to complication. A
multiplicity of many interacting species and other factors work in unison to
form an ecosystem, not against each other creating chaos.
(7) Deep Ecology supports local autonomy and decentralization. Organisms and
ecosystems are increasingly handicapped by their dependence on factors
located far way. Decentralization strengthens local autonomy because it
reduces the links in the chain of decision. The more links in the chain of
command, the weaker the chain. (Naess, 1973).
In his more recent work, Naess highlights another difference, saying "For the
shallow or reform ecological movement, the central political questions are
significantly different from those of the deep movement." For reform
ecology, the task is to modify human behavior for the short term well being
of humans. For Deep Ecology, the task is to examine how humans got to this
crisis in the first place. (1989, p. 162)
If you want, I can send you a list of books that I used, plus the "Inquiry"
article that started the whole movement.
Peace,
Mary
-------------------------------------
Name: mary hallock morris
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (mary hallock morris)
Date: 07/24/95
Time: 20:15:31
Grad student: The McGregor School of Antioch U.
Yellow Springs, Ohio
majoring in Community and Environmental Ed.
"In Nature, Nothing Exists Alone." -- Rachel Carson
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