Key Concepts in Critical Theory: Ecology

by Carolyn Merchant

The age of reason offers a mechanistic description of the world through logic and mathematics, which has led to the possibility of controlling nature. These ecology essays aim to rediscover the nature within human beings and to reconnect it with external nature in a holistic, postmodern manner.

Genres: Philosophy, Ecology

Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Carolyn Merchant is an American ecofeminist philosopher and historian of science most famous for her theory (and book of the same title) on The Death of Nature, whereby she identifies the Scientific Revolution of the seventeenth century as the period when science began to atomize, objectify, and dissect nature, foretelling its eventual conception as composed of inert atomic particles. Her works are important in the development of environmental history and the history of science. She is Professor emerita of Environmental History, Philosophy, and Ethics at UC Berkeley.

Reviews

[KA · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good reader on the social, political, theological, and more broadly scientific repercussions of ecological theory. The spirituality section was not what it could have been - there are better writers to include, and better essays by the folks who were included - but the post-modern science section was awesome!

[Rain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neatly organized.