Information AboutDeep Ecology |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT DEEP ECOLOGY | |
| ecology | |
| environmental ethics | |
| currents within green politics | |
| social movements | |
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DEVELOPMENT The phrase deep ecology was coined by the Norwegian philosopher . It is wrong when it tends otherwise." Deep ecology offers a philosophical basis for environmental advocacy which may, in turn, guide human activity against perceived self-destruction. Deep ecology and contend that massive human economic activity has pushed the Biosphere far from its "natural" state through reduction of Biodiversity , Climate Change , and other influences. As a consequence, civilization is causing Mass Extinction . Deep ecologists hope to influence social and political change through their philosophy. Scientific While Næss and Fox do not claim to use and System Dynamics . scientists they mention particularly are Rachel Carson , Aldo Leopold , John Livingston , Paul R. Ehrlich and Barry Commoner , together with Frank Fraser Darling , Charles Sutherland Elton , Eugene Odum and Paul Sears . A further scientific source for deep ecology adduced by Devall and Sessions is the "new physics", which they describe as shattering Descartes 's and Newton 's vision of the universe as a machine explainable in terms of simple Linear cause and effect, and instead providing a view of Nature in constant flux with the idea that observers are separate an illusion. They refer to Fritjof Capra 's '' The Tao Of Physics '' and ''The Turning Point'' for their characterisation of how the new physics leads to metaphysical and ecological views of interrelatedness which according to Capra should make deep ecology a framework for future human societies. The scientific version of the Gaia Hypothesis was also an influence on the development of deep ecology. Spiritual The central spiritual tenet of deep ecology is that the human species is a part of the Earth and not separate from it. A process of self-realisation or "re-earthing" is used for an individual to intuitively gain an ecocentric perspective. The notion is based on the idea that the more we ''expand the self'' to identify with "others" (people, animals, ecosystems), the more we realise ourselves. Transpersonal Psychology has been used by Warwick Fox to support this idea. Experiential Drawing upon the Buddhist tradition is the work of Joanna Macy . Macy, working as an anti-nuclear activist in USA, found that one of the major impediments confronting the activists' cause was the presence of unresolved emotions of despair, grief, sorrow, anger and rage. The denial of these emotions led to apathy and disempowerment. We may have intellectual understanding of our interconnectedness, but our culture, experiential deep ecologists like John Seed argue, robs us of emotional and visceral experience of that interconnectedness which we had as small children, but which has been socialised out of us by a highly anthropocentric alienating culture. Through "Despair and Empowerment Work" and more recently "The Work that Reconnects", Macy and others have been taking Experiential Deep Ecology into many countries including especially the USA, Europe (particularly Britain and Germany), Russia and Australia. PRINCIPLES Proponents of deep ecology believe that the world does not exist as a resource to be freely exploited by humans. The ethics of deep ecology hold that a whole system is superior to any of its parts. They offer an eight-tier platform to elucidate their claims:Devall and Sessions, ''op. cit.'', p. 70. #The well-being and flourishing of human and nonhuman life on Earth have value in themselves (synonyms: intrinsic value, inherent value). These values are independent of the usefulness of the nonhuman world for human purposes. #Richness and diversity of life forms contribute to the realization of these values and are also values in themselves. #Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to satisfy vital human needs. #The flourishing of human life and cultures is compatible with a substantial decrease of the human population. The flourishing of nonhuman life requires such a decrease. #Present human interference with the nonhuman world is excessive, and the situation is rapidly worsening. #Policies must therefore be changed. These policies affect basic economic, technological, and ideological structures. The resulting state of affairs will be deeply different from the present. #The ideological change is mainly that of appreciating life quality (dwelling in situations of inherent value) rather than adhering to an increasingly higher standard of living. There will be a profound awareness of the difference between big and great. #Those who subscribe to the foregoing points have an obligation directly or indirectly to try to implement the necessary changes. MOVEMENT In practice, deep ecologists support Decentralization , the creation of Ecoregion s, the breakdown of Industrialism in its current form, and an end to Authoritarianism . Deep ecology is not normally considered a distinct movement, but as part of the Green Movement . The deep ecological movement could be defined as those within the green movement who hold deep ecological views. Deep ecologists welcome the labels " Gaian " and " Green " (including the broader political implications of this term, e.g. Commitment To Peace ). Deep ecology has had a broad general influence on the green movement by providing an independent ethical platform for Green Parties , Political Ecologist s and Environmentalist s. The philosophy of deep ecology helped differentiate the modern Ecology Movement by pointing out the Anthropocentric bias of the term " Environment ", and rejecting the idea of humans as authoritarian guardians of the environment. CRITICISMS The notion of intrinsic value "Shallow" ecologists criticize the notion that the intrinsic value of ecological systems exists independently of humanity's recognition of it. An example of this approach is that one might say that a work of art is only valuable insofar as humans perceive it to be worthwhile. Shallow ecologists feel that the ecosystem's value does not reach beyond our appreciation of it. Intrinsic value is a philosophical concept which some do not accept.Zimmerman, Michael J. "Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Value: 3. Is There Such a Thing As Intrinsic Value At All?" in ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Fall 2004 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed). However, intrinsic value defined as value existing separate from human thought may in this case be conflated with intrinsic value defined as natural worth existing independent of modification or application of a substance or entity, clouding the argument. This entire argument, however, assumes both the primacy and uniqueness of the ability of humans to create value, as opposed to a collection of sentient beings dependent on a perfectly ordered system for life or even a natural system devoid of sentient life being incapable of possessing inherent value. It also is a result of the confusion between Anthropogenic - something being created by humans, and Anthropocentric - exclusive value being given to humans. Interests in nature However, the overarching criticism assumes that humans, in governing their own affairs, are somehow immune from this same assumption; i.e. how can governing humans truly presume to understand the interests of the rest of humanity. While the deep ecologist critic would answer that the logical application of language and social mores would provide this justification, i.e. voting patterns etc, the deep ecologist would note that these "interests" are ultimately observable solely from the logical application of the behavior of the life form, which is the same standard used by deep ecologists to perceive the standard of interests for the natural world. Deepness Ecofeminist response Both rather than Anthropocentrism . Misunderstanding scientific information "Shallow" View superior Writer William Grey believes that developing a non-anthropocentric set of values is "a hopeless quest" He seeks an improved "shallow" view, writing;, "What's wrong with shallow views is not their concern about the well-being of humans, but that they do not really consider enough in what that well-being consists. We need to develop an enriched, fortified anthropocentric notion of human interest to replace the dominant short-term, sectional and self-regarding conception.: Anthropocentrism and Deep Ecology by William Grey Deep ecology as not "deep" enough claim that deep ecology fails to link environmental crises with Authoritarianism and Hierarchy . Social ecologists believe that environmental problems are firmly rooted in the manner of human social interaction, and protest that an ecologically sustainable society could still be socially exploitative. Deep ecologists reject the argument that ecological behavior is rooted in the social paradigm (according to their view, that is an anthropocentric fallacy), and they maintain that the converse of the social ecologists' objection is also true in that it is equally possible for a socially Egalitarian society to continue to exploit the Earth. Socially biased Some criticize deep ecologists as Bourgeois in that they advocate a way of living that is easier for people who are more affluent. That is to say, it is often difficult for certain groups of people, namely Native American tribes such as the Makah to have healthy diets in exclusion of animals. Additionally, in the case of the Makah, whaling is an integral part of the culture, and as such, critics may ascribe any move to stop it as ethnocentric or imperialistic. Those who criticize deep ecology for its misanthropy would likely argue that this proves how the movement is destructive to the human race. Some deep ecologists would likely retort that whaling in the case of the Makah is acceptable, since it does not endanger the environment on the whole as industrialism does, and in many ways recognizes whales as equal, but still part of the food chain. At this point, their practices are little different from animals who diet on other animals to stay alive./ Other Deep Ecologists would respond that any utility whaling may once have had is no longer applicable, as it is certainly not currently necessary to their survival. They would further note that the prohibition of such actions is no more ethnocentric than the prohibition of any act significant to one culture which has negative applications to the world at large, such as racial, religious, or sexual oppression. LINKS WITH OTHER MOVEMENTS Parallels have been drawn between deep ecology and other movements, in particular the Animal Rights movement and Earth First! . EARLY INFLUENCES |
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