that forgo consumption will simply advantage those that do not. It is in the context
of this debate over energy depletion that Lovelock’s endorsement of nuclear energy
has to be understood.Summary
Ecologism’s distinctiveness can be found in its emphasis on the interconnectedness
of life on earth, and the demand for a fundamental change in human relations to
nature – where nature, of course, is part of humanity, and humanity part of nature.
It offers a critique of both liberalism and socialism, and while recognising the
important differences between those ideologies it finds commonalities: a commitment
to economic growth that is incompatible with the finite nature of the earth.
Humanity’s ambitions exceed the resources of its home.Questions
- Are there major philosophical differences between environmentalists and
ecologists? - Is ecologism compatible with democracy?
- Is ecologism compatible with socialism?
- Should an ecologist be concerned with animal rights?
References
Devall, B. and Sessions, G. (eds) (1985) Deep EcologySalt Lake City, UT: Gibbs Smith.
Dobson, A. (2000) Green Political ThoughtLondon: Routledge.
Hardin, G. (1974) ‘Living on a Lifeboat’ Bioscience(24)10, 561–8.
Hardin, G. (1994) ‘The Tragedy of the Commons’ in C. Pierce and D. Ven de Veer, People,
Penguins and Plastic Trees: Basic Issues in Environmental EthicsLondon: Wadsworth,
330–8.
Kuhn, T. (1962) The Structure of Scientific RevolutionsChicago, IL: University of Chicago
Press.
Leopold, A. (1987) A Sand Country Almanac, and Sketches Here and ThereNew York:
Oxford University Press.
Næss, A. (1973) ‘The Shallow and the Deep, Long Range Ecology Movements’ Inquiry16,
95–100.Further reading
Dobson (2000) is the clearest introduction to Green political thought. Other useful discussions
of ecological thought and practice include: John Barry, Rethinking Green Politics: Nature,376 Part 3 Contemporary ideologies