SOC101 Chapter Notes -Triple Bottom Line, Paul J. Crutzen, Ulrich Beck
11 Feb 2013
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Document Summary
Environmental sociology is the study of interaction between human society and the physical environment. Ecology is the study of how living organisms interact with the environment. Ecosystem is a community of organisms living, feeding, reproducing, and interacting in the same area: all organisms are interdependent and exist in an elaborate work. Relationship between humans and their physical environment can be seen in 3 broad orientations. Physical environment is viewed as a warehouse of raw materials to be exploited; nature by itself= no intrinsic value. Physical environment has an almost sacred and spiritual value, and humans have a unique obligation to act as its stewards and protectors. Physical environment and human beings exist in a harmonious relationship, human needs can be achieved without damaging the physical environment. Anthropocentrism is the view that human beings are separate from, and above, the rest of nature. Dunlap and catton argued that while humans were certainly exceptional, they were not exempt from natural world.
