what is deep ecology
Deep ecology believes in the intrinsic value of nature, regardless of its use value.
Deep ecology is an expression coined by the Norwegian philosopher Arne Næss in 1973. The concept holds that nature has a intrinsic value, regardless of your use value by the human being. In this sense, deep ecology calls into question ecological utilitarianism.
- what is agroecology
Deep ecology is an anti-rationalist philosophy and its main objective is to shift society's focus from anthropocentrism to biocentrism. In deep ecology, nature is a good in itself and all beings are of equal importance. The idea of deep ecology values the drastic reduction of the human population and its intervention in nature.
- What is Anthropocene?
- What are planetary boundaries?
- What are nature-based solutions?
- What is industrial ecology?
- The well-being and development of human and non-human life on Earth is of value in itself. These values are independent of the utility of the non-human world for human purposes;
- The richness and diversity of life forms contribute to the realization of these values and they are also values in themselves;
- Human beings have no right to reduce this wealth and diversity, except to satisfy their vital needs;
- The flourishing of human life and cultures is compatible with a substantial decline in the human population. The flowering of non-human life requires this diminution;
- The present human interference in the non-human world is excessive and the situation is rapidly worsening;
- Policies must therefore be changed. These policies affect basic economic, technological and ideological structures. The resulting state of affairs will be profoundly different from the present;
- The ideological shift is mainly about appreciating the quality of life (living in situations of inherent value) rather than adhering to an increasingly higher standard of living. There will be a profound shift in consciousness;
- Those who believe in the principles of deep ecology have a direct or indirect obligation to try to implement the necessary changes.
deep ecology versus hegemonic worldview
Deep ecology has assumptions opposed to the hegemonic worldview. While deep ecology values harmony with nature, its intrinsic value and equality between species, the hegemonic worldview believes that the human being holds the domain of nature and that it is only a resource for satisfying our needs.
The economy in deep ecology
Proponents of deep ecology see material goals as non-essential means of achieving self-actualization. Different from the hegemonic worldview, in which economic and material growth is necessarily seen as the basis for human growth.
In addition, the hegemonic worldview believes in the vast amount of reserves and resources, in progress and in solutions based on high technology; in consumerism and in the centralized nationalist community. While deep ecology believes that the planet has limited resources, that we already have appropriate technology and that science should not be dominant, making room for the recognition of minority traditions, doing as much as possible for recycling. Deep ecology defends the concept of bioregions and not of a globalized society, which does not respect local particularities.
For deep ecology, before the industry revolution, society was in harmony with the natural environment.
Principles
The most significant principle of deep ecology is the assumption that the world does not exist as a resource to be freely exploited by human beings.
Proponents of deep ecology believe that material goods do not guarantee happiness beyond a very superficial level. Even for them, excessive consumption puts the biosphere at risk and, therefore, it is necessary for humanity to define a new non-consumerist paradigm of well-being. The ethic of deep ecology holds that the survival of any part depends on the well-being of the whole. But, in addition to this main base, there are eight guiding principles of deep ecology:Deep ecology supporters
There are many supporters of deep ecology. But there are dissimilarities between them. You "new age" They look for a new way of life focused on self-fulfillment and spiritualization. The group, on the other hand, "earth first" is seen as an anarchist, as they have a more eco-guerrilla vision of deep ecology . earth first they usually spend most of their time in wild green areas and want most of the American territory to return to being a collection of natural ecosystems. After some current leaders earth first having expressed racist, sexist and misanthropic attitudes, the political left began to point to them as dangerous for the well-being of society.
