Deep ecology is a somewhat recent branch of ecological philosophy that considers humankind an integral part of its environment. Arne naess invented the term deep ecology in a famous. Another dispute has centered on the critique of anthropocentrism offered by some supporters of the deep ecology movement. One of the basic tenets of deep ecology is that nature has a value in itself, apart from. Some consider the publication of rachel carsons book silent spring 1962 as the beginning.
Writings by arne naess kindle edition by naess, arne, drengson, alan, devall, bill. Here, editors alan drengson and bill devall provide a comprehensive yet accessible volume of naesss most groundbreaking and seminal essays, which have remained influential among environmen. This chapter offers a feminist critique of deep ecology as presented in the seminal papers of ame naess and bill devall. There are deeper concerns which touch upon principles of diversity, complexity, autonomy, decentralization, symbiosis. Deep ecologythe term and the book unfolds the path to living a simple, rich life and shows how to participate in major environmental issues in a positive and creative manner. The term deep ecology was coined by a norwegian philosopher, by the name of arnie naess, in 1972. He wasnt the first to dream up the idea of a radical change in humanitys relationship to nature, but he coined the term deep ecology and helped to give it a theoretical foundation. It is a body of thought that places greater value on nonhuman species, ecosystems and processes in nature than established environmental and green movements. Naesss 1973 notion of a deep ecology accepts shallow. Deep ecology is a relatively new way of thinking about ecology. Deep ecology is not concerned with who should own land or whether land ownership is legitimate, but only with how it is treated. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A founder of the deep ecology movement, arne naess has produced articles on environmentalism that have provided unmatched inspiration for ecologists, philosophers, and activists worldwide.
Forerunners can also be found much earlier, for example in romanticism from the time of goethe. This collection amasses a definitive group of naess most important works in which he calls for nonviolent, cooperative action to protect the earth. Adherents of the deep ecology movement share a dislike of. The wellbeing and flourishing of human and nonhuman life on earth have value in themselves synonyms.
Jan 16, 2009 david orton a selfdescribed antiindustrial biocentrist, wrote a long appreciation of naess pdf, from which ive excerpted this short interpretation of the philosophers distinction between deep and shallow ecology. Deep ecology is an ecological and environmental philosophy promoting the inherent worth of. Deep ecology is an ecological and environmental philosophy promoting the inherent worth of living beings regardless of their instrumental utility to human needs, plus a restructuring of modern human societies in accordance with such ideas. Deep ecology teaches that belief in an objective comprehension of nature is belief in a flat world seen from above, without depth, and. With luck, this collection will help to change that. He contrasted the mainstream shallow ecology movement with the deep ecology movement.
Deep ecology is primarily associated with norwegian philosopher arne naess 1912 2009. Naess cited rachel carsons 1962 book silent spring as a key influence in his vision of deep ecology. Living as if nature mattered another great service from amazon. Correspondingly, the revenge of gaia adheres closely to n. He is a renowned spinoza scholar, and has written extensively o. It involves moving beyond the individualism of western culture towards also seeing ourselves as part of the earth.
Deep ecology is an environmental movement initiated by a norwegian philosopher, arnie naess, in 1972. There are other deep ecology and related books for example women. The deep ecology movement did not appear like a bolt out of the blue. The platform principles of the deep ecology movement are broad enough to be this inclusive. According to deep ecology, the self should be understood as deeply connected with and as part of nature, not disassociated from it. The deep in deep ecology refers to a fundamental or wise questioning of attitudes to nature. Deep ecology, he argues, is simply an enumeration of. Deep ecologythe term and the bookunfolds the path to living a simple, rich life and shows how to participate in major environmental issues in a positive and creative manner. Naess defined the shallow ecology movement, which he says is more influential than the deep ecology movement, as. As a snapshot of his extensive writings, this book perhaps does a some justice, by culling out relevant pieces and placing them in thematic gestalts to present some essential aspects of his ecosophy. He considers the publication of carsons 1962 book silent spring as the beginning of the contemporary deep ecology movement. Deep ecology is term devised by norwegian philosopher arne naess b. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the ecology of wisdom.
Pdf deep ecology as a framework for student ecophilosophical. Pdf deep ecology is an ecological philosophy that promotes an ecocentric. For naess unmitigated empiricism or ecophenomenology brown and toadvine 2003 promotes a direct experience of the qualities of natureits concrete contents naess 1985. The shallow and the deep, longrange ecology movement. A summary arne naess university of oslo ecologically responsible policies are concerned only in part with pollution and resource depletion. This book was ordered from america, it was in excellent condition for second hand and an amazingly cheap price and delivered when it was planned. Foundation for deep ecology the deep ecology platform.
Foundation for deep ecology the deep ecology movement. Nov 11, 2008 this collection of essays written by arne naess, one of the founders of the deep ecology movement, is a wellwritten, thought provoking set of works from a man who is a national hero of sorts in norway, but has yet to really make his mark here in the united states. Respondents were deidentified by name and gender using the n ames of stars in the night sky. Arne naess was professor emeritus of philosophy at oslo university in norway. According to naess, this ecological philosophy and ethos was inspired by american marine biologist rachel carson. Aug 22, 2015 in this film, naess tells about the concept of deep ecology, which was first introduced by him in 1973. Environmentalism had emerged as a popular grassroots political movement in the 1960s with the publication of rachel carsons book silent spring. Deep ecologists often call that conception of human nature the ecological self, and it represents humans acting and being in harmony with nature, not in opposition to it. At best deep ecology is apolitical, and though it claims to be beyond such distinctions, many feel deep ecology tends towards a rightwing perspective. Deep ecology questions the root causes of the degeneration of the variety and richness of the world. These values are independent of the usefulness of the nonhuman world for human purposes. In this article on gandhi, gandhi and deep ecology, the author, thomas weber, analyses the mahatmas contribution to the intellectual development of arne naess and argues that those who want to make an informed study of deep ecology and particularly those who are interested in the philosophy of naess, should go back to gandhi for a fuller picture. Arne naess is a widely celebrated norwegian philosopher and activist whose long career includes a prestigious professorship in the university of oslos philosophy department, continuing activism in social and ecological issues, and major contributions to the development of the deep ecology movement.
A sand county almanac and sketches here and there by aldo leopold, ecology, community and lifestyle. It outlines the fundamental premises involved and analyzes their internal coherence. Deep ecology is a holistic approach to facing world problems that brings together thinking, feeling, spirituality and action. Naess said that supporters of the deep ecology movement embrace its. Readings on the philosophy and practice of the new environmentalism 9781570620492.
During the 1970s, norwegian philosopher and mountaineer arne nae. We give a detailed account of the movement comparing it to other movements for social responsibility that. This book was ordered from america, it was in excellent condition for second hand. Deep ecology explores the philosophical, psychological, and sociological roots of todays environmental movement, examines the humancentered assumptions behind most approaches to nature, explores the possibilities of an expanded human consciousness, and offers specific direct action suggestions for individuals to practice. The latter stresses the need for extensive changes in values and practices, especially in industrial nations. Deep ecology is subversive, but its the kind of subversion we can use. Modern environmentalism owes a great debt to philosopher, professor, and writer arne naess, cofounder of the deep ecology movement. Naess maintains that deep ecology is essentially descriptive. Sep 16, 2010 buy ecology of wisdom, the 1 by alan drengson, bill devall, arne naess, alan drengson, bill devall isbn. A rne naess 19122009 was a norwegian philosopher, mountaineer, and green party activist who founded the school of deep ecology. One of the most influential positions in environmental philosophy see environmental ethics, deep ecology emerged in the 1970s as the philosophical expression of.
Naess is the acknowledged founder of deep ecology and a respected authority in semantics, the philosophy of science and the thinking of spinoza and ghandi. Naess 1995, a central metaphysical process for deep ecologists that we examine in. Deep ecology and animals free online book on how to do. Readings on the philosophy and practice of the new environmentalism. Aug 28, 2016 in this post, well explore the roots of the deep ecology movement and the eight principles that make up the deep ecology platform. In their 1985 book deep ecology,7 bill devall and george sessions. My first encounter with the writings of naess, one of the founders of what he called the longrange deep ecology movement. In 1973, norwegian philosopher and mountaineer arne naess introduced the phrase deep ecology to environmental literature. Naessian deep ecology, political action and the climate crisis. In this article from 1991, arne naess traces its history, mentioning the publication of rachel carsons silent spring in 1963 as a defining moment. Jun 21, 2016 lovelock explicitly tells us that he is moved by the ideas of deep ecology 142, and praises deep ecologists for recognizing the magnitude of the change of mind needed to bring us back into peace with gaia, the living earth 154. As a supporter of the deep ecology movement you have to go deep in your questioning, to what for you are the deepest beliefs. On a global level, social change is especially urgent in north america.
Deep ecology, a term originated in 1972 by norwegian philosopher arne naess, is emerging as a way to develop harmony between individuals, communities and nature. Arne naess says that he is a supporter of the ecofeminist, social ecology, social justice, bioregional, and peace movements. This book is both a philosophical primer and a handbook on strategy and tactics for thoughtful environmentalists. The call of the mountain arne naess and the deep ecology. Arne naess, the shallow and the deep, longrange ecology movement. The term is called deep ecology because we as human beings have begun to question our place on the planet in reference to life in nature. That is a necessary, but not a sufficient, condition of being a supporter of the deep ecology movement. Arne naess and the deep ecology movement short version. For arne naess, ecological science, concerned with facts and logic alone, cannot. San francisco chronicle this book is an attempt at codifying a scattered body of ecological insight into a philosophy that places human beings on an absolutely equal footing with all other creatures on the planet. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.