PHIL 2270 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Deep Ecology, Elite, Resource Depletion
14 Jun 2018
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“The Shallow and the Deep Ecology Movement” Arne Naess
Shallow Ecology: movement headed by the power elite (government & business),
whose goals are to reduce pollution & conserve resources but without investigating
context (economic) or cause.
Deep Ecology: movement headed by the scientific elite, whose goals are to find the
causes behind resource depletion & pollution & to eliminate them. Result: radical
lifestyle change with new social reforms.
7 “Basic Principles and Notions” characterizing deep ecology. “Ecophilosophy”
1) Systemic orientation: the environment is thought of NOT as a whole but rather as an
ecosystem, in which we are an integral part.
2) Biospherical Egalitarianism: Everything, whether human or non-human, has the equal
right to “live and blossom” – to thrive.
• Since animals and humans are equals, the problem of over-crowding becomes
a common problem that needs to be addressed.
3) Diversity and Symbiosis: Diversity promotes survival as does symbiosis – the ability to
co-operate and live with in an ecosystem with other species. “Live and let live” vs.
“Either you or me”
4) Anti-Class Posture: Having classes divided into master/slave gives rise to exploitation
of the dominated class by the dominant class.
• Bioegalitarianism blocks exploitation of land and resources by the power elite
and prevents dominant nations from exploiting the resources of weaker nations.
5) Pollution control & stopping resource depletion: The distinction between rich and
poor and economic exploitation must be taken into account if there are to be
solutions.
6) Complexity not Complication: We need to recognize the complexity of the biosystem
and all of the inter-relationships in the environment.
7) Local autonomy and decentralization: The globalization of goods and economy
tends to negatively influence local economies and ecologies.
• This implies the need for decentralization and self-governance to protect against
outside influences. Naess argues that centralization is important for controlling
pollution and depletion of resources.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
The shallow and the deep ecology movement arne naess. Shallow ecology: movement headed by the power elite (government & business), whose goals are to reduce pollution & conserve resources but without investigating context (economic) or cause. Deep ecology: movement headed by the scientific elite, whose goals are to find the causes behind resource depletion & pollution & to eliminate them. Result: radical lifestyle change with new social reforms. 7 basic principles and notions characterizing deep ecology. This implies the need for decentralization and self-governance to protect against outside influences. Naess argues that centralization is important for controlling pollution and depletion of resources. The heart of deep ecology by andrew mclaughlin. The author contends that industrialism, whether capitalist or socialist, requires the destruction of species and ecosystems : mclaughlin maintains that deep ecology will be a good tool in transforming society in the right direction.
