Ecolog:
Many of the recent contributions around the question of the "fault" of ecologists have been most insightful, and exemplify the kind of potential that a "mere" listserv can achieve. I thank everyone for their contribution, and I offer the following for your consideration and criticism. The fair use doctrine applies. WT Lilies of the Field or Streets of Gold? The history of culture--of cultivating and domesticating is one of evading the laws of Nature. But Nature's laws cannot be evaded forever. WE, THE CULTURE, DON'T KNOW THAT. It is evident by our behavior. Ecologists, or at least those who study what happens outside the prison of culture, are in a better position to know that than others who are more submissive to the system of authoritarian hierarchy that has increasingly governed us for several millennia. We don't exactly choose to be slaves; we can be bought off with bread and circuses, but we acquiesce more and more--in stages, like the "boiling a live frog by gradually increasing the temperature until it is dead" fable. This is physiological adaptation. Acquiescence to the cultural insanity of DEMANDING a continuously greater and greater level of LUXURY, farther and farther beyond our NEEDS, is the hot tub of our destiny. This is the "inconvenient truth" or the mega-elephant in the room. "As ye sow, so shall ye reap." Biblical and other ancient texts ironically, even sometimes simultaneously, reveal the division between ecologists and exploiters, cooperators and hyper-competitors as the tendencies toward social and cultural behavior resolve against the satisfaction of need and the concentration of power. We, the ecologists, inside the prison of culture, will continue to struggle free, quite naturally, making moves to ensure our comfort zone by moving toward (or creating) habitats in the realm of, shall we say, 70 degrees F or so, adequate nutrition, hedging against famine, and countless other "measurements" that define our range of adaptation. Culture will go on trying to achieve the fantasy of a heaven-on-earth, with streets paved with gold. (excerpt from "Culture Against Society," ms in preparation, by Wayne Tyson) WT
