Deep ecology

Deep ecology is a recent philosophy or ecosophy based on a shift away from the anthropocentric bias of established environmental and green movements. The philosophy is marked by a new interpretation of "self" which deemphasizes the rationalistic duality between the human organism and its environment, thus allowing emphasis to be placed on the intrinsic value of other species, systems and processes in nature. This position leads to an ecocentric system of environmental ethics. Deep ecology describes itself as "deep" because it asks complex spiritual questions about the role of human life in the ecosphere.

Development

Ecology has shown us that ecosystems exist in a state of dynamic equilibrium, and can absorb only limited change by humans. Environmentalists contend that massive human economic activity has pushed the biosphere far from homeostasis through reduction of biodiversity and climate change. A consequence of this analysis is that the prevailing ideology of western civilisation is leading to mass extinction. This has prompted the need for new philosophical paradigms, such as deep ecology, which can guide human activity against perceived self-destruction.

Related Topics:
Has shown us - Biosphere - Homeostasis - Biodiversity - Climate change - Prevailing ideology - Mass extinction

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The phrase deep ecology was coined by the Norwegian philosopher Arne Næss in 1972, and he helped give it a theoretical foundation. Næss rejected the idea that beings can be ranked according to their relative value. For example, judgements on whether an animal has an eternal soul, whether it uses reason or whether it has consciousness have all been used to justify the ranking of the human animal over other animals. Næss states that "the right of all forms to live is a universal right which cannot be quantified. No single species of living being has more of this particular right to live and unfold than any other species." This metaphysical idea is elucidated in Warwick Fox's claim that we and all other beings are "aspects of a single unfolding reality".

Related Topics:
Arne Næss - Soul - Reason - Consciousness - Human animal - Metaphysical - Warwick Fox

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Scientific

Deep ecology finds scientific underpinnings in the fields of ecology and system dynamics. Næss and Fox do not use logic or induction to directly derive the philosophy from scientific ecology, but rather claim that scientific ecology directly implies the metaphysics of deep ecology, including its ideas about the self.

Related Topics:
Ecology - System dynamics - Logic - Induction

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The scientific version of the Gaia hypothesis was also an influence on the development of deep ecology.

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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.

Related Topics:
Transpersonal psychology - Warwick Fox

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Other traditions which have influenced deep ecology include Taoism and Zen Buddhism, primarily because they have a non-dualistic approach to subject and object. In relation to the Judeo-Christian tradition, Næss offers the following criticism: {{fn|1}} "The arrogance of stewardship consists in the idea of superiority which underlies the thought that we exist to watch over nature like a highly respected middleman between the Creator and Creation."

Related Topics:
Taoism - Zen Buddhism - Judeo-Christian - Bible - Creator

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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.

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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.

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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.

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