Michael
Tobias, ed., Deep Ecology (San Diego,
CA: Avant Books, 1984)
In his introduction to Deep Ecology, Michael
Tobias that deep ecology strives to understand
an inherent contradiction in our appraisal of
the natural world--we passionately identify
with nature and simultaneously exploit it. In
Paleolithic times artisans recorded the details
of of death and resurrection in their cave paintings;
in later Egyptian, Greek times man and nature
were synthesized in their Gods. By the 18th
century the Gods left nature to mankind--creating
land speculators and real estate moguls. In
his 19th century critique of capitalism, Karl
Marx equated the exploitation of labor with
the exploitation of nature; and George Marsh
warned that a public disconnect with nature
would lead to the downfall of American society.
In the 20th century, this ecological schism
has led to a conservation movement that attempts
to redress human nature gone awry. In a shallow
way it works to preserve nature for human use;
in its deep counterpart--deep ecology it encompasses
personal moods, values, and aesthetic and philosophical
convictions which serve no utilitarian or rational
end. |