Ecology

by Carolyn Merchant (Editor), Roger S. Gottlieb (Editor)

As we survey the effects of modernism—environmental destruction, the net consumption of irreplaceable natural resources, the ever-widening gulf between first and third worlds—we are forced to grapple with the consequences of the domination of nature by human beings. The readings gathered here join these issues with critical theory to examine the ongoing struggle to rediscover the nature within human beings and to reconnect it with external nature.

Starting with an examination of the use of modernist thought as legitimation for the domination of nature, the collection progresses on a broad It examines how first-world economies create third-world dependency; the connections between poverty and population; how basic needs could be fulfilled in a green sustainable economy; the debate among deep, social, and socialist ecologists over the new ecological worldview; ecofeminism and the liberation of both women and nature; environmental justice for minorities and third-world peoples; the need for new spiritual relations between people and nature; and a new postmodern science that offers people a partnership with nature. The conclusion presents the "Principles of Environmental Justice," adopted by the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit.

Each essay stands on its own as a contribution to the ecological debate, but the cumulative effect is clearly to ask how critical theorists, current environmental philosophers, and scientists propose to liberate both human beings and nature.

Genres: Philosophy, Ecology

397 pages, 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.