-- *Mar*Your position — that nature requires freedom from technological domination and human tampering — has resonances across the world. While very few thinkers call for the *total abolition of all technology*, many have argued for radical restraint, de-industrialization, or rewilding in defense of ecological integrity.
Below is a continent-wise overview of thinkers whose work aligns, in varying degrees, with your call for freeing nature from technological domination. ------------------------------ Europe*Jacques Ellul (France)* Ellul argued that “technique” becomes autonomous — it no longer serves human values but restructures society around efficiency. In *The Technological Society*, he warned that technological systems override ethical, spiritual, and ecological limits. His critique is very close to your concern that machines sever natural relationships. *Ivan Illich (Austria/Mexico)* Illich argued that industrial institutions (transport, medicine, schooling) become counterproductive beyond a certain scale. He called for “convivial tools” — small-scale tools that do not dominate life. He did not reject all tools, but opposed industrial megasystems. *Arne Naess (Norway)* Founder of Deep Ecology. Naess argued that nature has intrinsic value independent of human use. He advocated radical reduction of industrial society’s scale and human interference. *Pentti Linkola (Finland)* One of the most uncompromising ecological thinkers. He openly argued that modern technological civilization must collapse for ecological survival. His views were extreme and controversial, but very close to your “no exceptions” stance. ------------------------------ Asia*Masanobu Fukuoka (Japan)* Advocated “Do-Nothing Farming.” He rejected industrial agriculture and believed nature, when left undisturbed, produces abundance. His philosophy aligns strongly with your call for non-tampering. *Vandana Shiva (India)* Critiques industrial agriculture, genetic engineering, and corporate globalization. She defends biodiversity and seed sovereignty. While she uses modern tools strategically, she strongly resists techno-industrial agriculture. *Satish Kumar (India/UK)* Advocates ecological simplicity, spiritual ecology, and reduction of industrial dependence. ------------------------------ Africa*Wangari Maathai (Kenya)* Founder of the Green Belt Movement. She emphasized reforestation and community ecology. While not anti-technology in total, she opposed destructive industrial development. *Nnimmo Bassey (Nigeria)* Strong critic of oil extraction and corporate industrial devastation in Africa. Advocates ecological justice and limits to industrial exploitation. Many African ecological thinkers emphasize protecting land from extractive technology imposed through global economics — aligning with your critique of “economics hijacking life.” ------------------------------ North America*Henry David Thoreau (USA)* Though predating modern industry, he warned against railroads and industrial expansion disrupting natural life. His call for simplicity at Walden echoes your concern. *Edward Abbey (USA)* Critic of industrial tourism and mechanization of wilderness. Advocated preservation of wild lands free from technological intrusion. *Derrick Jensen (USA)* Argues that industrial civilization is inherently destructive and must be dismantled for Earth to survive. Very aligned with your “terminally ill Gaia” concern. *John Zerzan (USA)* A primitivist thinker who argues that symbolic culture and technology alienate humans from nature. Advocates radical de-technologization. ------------------------------ South America*Alberto Acosta (Ecuador)* Promoter of “Buen Vivir” (Good Living), which prioritizes harmony with nature over industrial growth. *Eduardo Gudynas (Uruguay)* Advocates rights of nature and strong limits to extractivism in Latin America. In several Andean movements, nature (Pachamama) is granted legal personhood — an idea that strongly resonates with your belief that nature must be free from domination. ------------------------------ Australia*Val Plumwood (Australia)* Critiqued human-centered (anthropocentric) philosophy and industrial domination of nature. *Bill Mollison (Australia)* Founder of Permaculture. While not anti-technology entirely, he argued for ecological design mimicking natural systems rather than industrial control. Additionally, many Aboriginal ecological philosophies emphasize custodianship rather than domination — resisting industrial technological intrusion into land. ------------------------------ Important Clarification Very few serious ecological thinkers argue for: - Complete abolition of all tools - Total technological elimination without transition Most advocate: - Radical downsizing - Rewilding - Degrowth - Localized economies - Bioregional autonomy - Limits to industrial scale Your position — *no exceptions, total freedom of nature from technological tampering* — is philosophically coherent but rare in its absoluteness. Pentti Linkola and some primitivist thinkers come closest. ------------------------------ A Deeper Pattern Across continents, common themes appear: 1. Industrial scale is the problem. 2. Growth economics drives ecological collapse. 3. Nature has intrinsic value. 4. Wildness must be preserved. 5. Human humility is necessary. Where you go further is here: You argue technology itself is structurally incompatible with ecology — not just misused. That is a stronger ontological claim than most make. ------------------------------ If you wish, I can next: - Compare your position to Deep Ecology formally. - Contrast you with eco-modernists. - Or write an essay titled: *“Technology as Pandemic: A Global Intellectual History.”* Let me know how you would like to proceed. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CACDCHCLJMQOyuaLgC-Yn2o4fgUdjWi-rPV30jV6UOK%3DNPOMWtQ%40mail.gmail.com.
