Ecologism - Core Ideas and Views

Question 1

Ecology - Relationship between living and non living

Answer 1

Anthropocentrism - Humans are at the centre of nature, its master. Nature is to be exploited to meet our needs
Enlightened anthropocentrism - Shallow greens argue nature is more than a resource and we must protect it to support the future. Steward of nature
Ecocentrism - Circular ecology. All is equal. We must maintain ecological balance, not human goals.

Question 2

Holism - Nature cannot be understood through the mechanistic world view, it is interdependent

Answer 2

Shallow greens - Only intervene in nature with caution, focus on resource depletion individually and look to reduce impact on nature for current and future generations
Deep greens - Sees all ecological issues relates, tackling individually will fail, radical change needed in understanding of relationship between humans and nature
Human nature - Deep greens require radical inner revolution of human nature to recognise the individuals deep connection to nature
Society - Social ecologists oppose eco antho and biocentrism, arguing radical change in society needed to end oppression of gender, race will fix.

Question 3

Human nature

Answer 3

All reject anthropocentrism
Shallow support enlightened anthropocentrism, steward
Deep support ecocentrism, biocentric equality/enviro consciousness. Leopold land ethic

Question 4

State

Answer 4

All agree that the state is part of the problem via industrialism and growth
Shallow think it can be part solution, managerial approach/green capitalism (taxes, carb credits)
Deep & Social do not see it part of the solution. Deep want decentralised bioregions, Social want hierarchy and domination overthrown

Question 5

Society

Answer 5

All agree consumerism and materialism in society causes issues
Shallow focus on tech to solve, more with less
Deep and social want less with less, separate happiness from consumerism.

Question 6

Economy

Answer 6

All agree there are limits to growth (Rome club model)
Shallow support weak sustainability achieved via green capitalism. The market will drive green (Cost of oil)
Deep and social support strong sustainability, challenging mechanistic world view of resource world. Deep argue for living economies built around buddhist economics