The Ecology Book

297

See also: Romanticism, conservation, and ecology 298 ■ Environmental ethics

306–307 ■ The Green Movement 308–309 ■ Halting climate change 316–321

I

n the late 18th century, rapid

advances in science and

technology—particularly

in Britain—led to widespread

industrialization and urbanization

as people sought to control and

exploit the natural world. There

were, however, many in Britain

who still lived and worked on the

land. Among the educated rural

class, some had a fascination for

both science and nature. From

this group, a new generation of

naturalists emerged, suggesting

that humans should learn from their

scientific studies to live in harmony

with the natural world rather than

attempt to dominate it.

Arcadian ideology

In 1789, rural parson and naturalist

Gilbert White published his Natural

History and Antiquities of Selborne,

which became a seminal work in

what was later called “Arcadian

Ecology”. Educated at Oxford and a

keen gardener and ornithologist,

White closely observed the wildlife

around his Hampshire village, and

made meticulous notes from 1751

onward. The book was compiled

from his correspondence about his

findings with several like-minded

naturalists, but it was more than

simply a collection of data. White’s

engaging and often poetic style

sent a persuasive message; his

work rejected the “imperial” idea

of conquering nature, and instead

encouraged a balance between

humans and the natural world—

like that of the Ancient Greeks’

mythical idyll of Arcadia, for which

White’s approach was named. ■

ENVIRONMENTALISM AND CONSERVATION

IN CONTEXT

KEY FIGURE

Gilbert White (1720–93)

BEFORE

4th century bce Diogenes, a

Greek philosopher, advocates

forgoing the comforts of

civilization in favor of a life

“in accord with nature.”

1773 American naturalist

William Bartram starts his field

studies of the wildlife of the

southeast US, documented in

his 1791 book, Travels.

AFTER

1949 American ecologist Aldo

Leopold publishes A Sand

County Almanac, exploring the

idea of humans’ “land ethic,” or

responsibilities toward nature.

1969 Friends of the Earth

is founded in the US—initially

as an antinuclear group—

marking the beginning of the

modern Green movement.

NATURE IS A GREAT

ECONOMIST

THE PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE

OF HUMANKIND AND NATURE

From reading White’s Selborne

I took much pleasure in

watching the habits of birds,

and even made notes.

Charles Darwin

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