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Developing Ecological Consciousness: The End of Separation
Developing Ecological Consciousness is a marked departure from those standard environmental studies texts strongly focused on actions that humans need to take to fix the environment. Christopher Uhl explores the path to living in harmony with Earth, and believes it begins — not with fixing the environment — but with fixing ourselves — specifically our perceptions about Earth.
Using findings from science and his own life experience Uhl explains how all our environmental and social problems — e.g., climate change, species extinction, environmentally-linked cancers, genocide, deforestation — are rooted in separation — the severing of relationship between ourselves and the environment. As an antidote to separation, this book is an invitation to see everything — Earth, Cosmos, Sun, Worm, Bee — as well as each other and our very selves with “new eyes. This new look through the lens of relationship and interdependence reminds us of the larger ecological truth — that we are a part of, not apart from Earth. Indeed, at every level, from the sub-atomic to the cosmic, it is an interdependent relationship that defines reality.
Uhl places a large focus on healing throughout the book. As we break away from the old story of hyper-individualism, unrestrained growth, control and consumption, we move to a new story of human realization. Ultimately, this new story reveals that by making peace with ourselves and each other, we gain the capacity to make peace with Earth, delighting in the realization that Earth is our larger body, the sacred whole that we dwell within. Developing Ecological Consciousness successfully exposes the realization that must take place in order to rejoin the community of life; after all, the world was not made for us, but rather, it is we who have been made for the world.
Using findings from science and his own life experience Uhl explains how all our environmental and social problems — e.g., climate change, species extinction, environmentally-linked cancers, genocide, deforestation — are rooted in separation — the severing of relationship between ourselves and the environment. As an antidote to separation, this book is an invitation to see everything — Earth, Cosmos, Sun, Worm, Bee — as well as each other and our very selves with “new eyes. This new look through the lens of relationship and interdependence reminds us of the larger ecological truth — that we are a part of, not apart from Earth. Indeed, at every level, from the sub-atomic to the cosmic, it is an interdependent relationship that defines reality.
Uhl places a large focus on healing throughout the book. As we break away from the old story of hyper-individualism, unrestrained growth, control and consumption, we move to a new story of human realization. Ultimately, this new story reveals that by making peace with ourselves and each other, we gain the capacity to make peace with Earth, delighting in the realization that Earth is our larger body, the sacred whole that we dwell within. Developing Ecological Consciousness successfully exposes the realization that must take place in order to rejoin the community of life; after all, the world was not made for us, but rather, it is we who have been made for the world.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published February 16, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 11, 2018
This book was moving, eye-opening, and inspiring. It instilled a hope within me that we humans can create a sustainable global environment!
January 2, 2019
Read as part of my BISCI course. I enjoyed reading it as it combined some heavy facts with a message of positive action on a personal and community level. It's a textbook, so in some places the writing becomes a bit stilted, but the personal anecdotes from Uhl (the professor in the course) really helped add perspective to some of the points he aimed to make.
December 31, 2016
Honestly one of the most transformative and engaging books I've ever read (along with Daniel Quinn's Ishmael). This book should be required reading not only for students interested in environmental sciences but everyone in general.
September 25, 2020
read for class. Not disappointed I learned a lot and this book really opened my eyes to what’s going on sustainability wise in the world
October 29, 2014
The book was decent, but it was not what I expected. I expected more about understanding how ecology works, the mindset that helps figure out how nature is interrelated. Instead, it was more about developing a consciousness that respects nature. Good, just not what I expected. The two big things I came away with in that regard are how economism distorts our view of nature and rips it apart, and secondly, how the stories (myths) we tell ourselves shape our relationship with nature (and that we need to develop a new story). The first chapter or two covered some of the science of ecology (big picture), and the end covered his recommendations. Both those sections were quite good. However, the middle of the book (almost half of it) was quite weak - it seemed old hat to me, and didn't seem to point anywhere. All-in-all it was good, well worth reading, except maybe skim through that middle section.
April 14, 2017
What's going on here? A surprisingly coherent life philosophy woven into what is nothing more than an intro ecological text. But that appearance is merely superficial, and there is a lot more to dig into.
I learned a lot about my own thought process and its inevitable influences from Western, consumerist culture even down to personal notions of the self, and of success against failure. But what I didn't learn about as much was actual ecology.
As much psychology as anything else, although always with the interconnectedness and wonder of nature as the baseline thought-process. These latter concepts are delivered repeatedly and effectively, and they are certainly worth considering. Perhaps the title is more descriptive than it first appears, as the book is more about cultivating a kind of 'ecological consciousness' than it is strictly ecological. This is amenable if taken by itself, but it may also not be something you're looking for so it's good to be aware. I certainly had my assumptions about what it would be when I started reading, but they were quickly, and I believe, valuably, disproven after the first couple of chapters.
The more reflective and Socratic sections are where the book shines, if only by forcing you to consider the mundane in a new light. As Whitehead says, "Philosophy begins and ends in wonder."
Although I wish it was slightly more coherent and focused, I also believe it would be weaker overall with fewer digressions. The author's stories and reflections are often the most memorable parts. So it seems there's not much to change. Certainly well worth reading if you want to move beyond the faults of the present world and consider its possible, interconnected futures. (To say nothing of your own faults and potential futures.)
I learned a lot about my own thought process and its inevitable influences from Western, consumerist culture even down to personal notions of the self, and of success against failure. But what I didn't learn about as much was actual ecology.
As much psychology as anything else, although always with the interconnectedness and wonder of nature as the baseline thought-process. These latter concepts are delivered repeatedly and effectively, and they are certainly worth considering. Perhaps the title is more descriptive than it first appears, as the book is more about cultivating a kind of 'ecological consciousness' than it is strictly ecological. This is amenable if taken by itself, but it may also not be something you're looking for so it's good to be aware. I certainly had my assumptions about what it would be when I started reading, but they were quickly, and I believe, valuably, disproven after the first couple of chapters.
The more reflective and Socratic sections are where the book shines, if only by forcing you to consider the mundane in a new light. As Whitehead says, "Philosophy begins and ends in wonder."
Although I wish it was slightly more coherent and focused, I also believe it would be weaker overall with fewer digressions. The author's stories and reflections are often the most memorable parts. So it seems there's not much to change. Certainly well worth reading if you want to move beyond the faults of the present world and consider its possible, interconnected futures. (To say nothing of your own faults and potential futures.)
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews