Ecologism Theory

Need for radical socio-political change. Anti-industrialisation – Kropotkin and Morris.
Ideas about interconnectedness, holism, natural balance, sustainability and environmental ethics.
Growing recognition that the threat to the environment had an important ideological dimension in the form of anthropocentrism (human centred bias – human needs of overriding moral and philosophical importance). This has been seen in mainstream politics; with all major parties have environmental policies and the growing increase in the number of environmental pressure groups.
Emergence of ‘deep’ ecology – embraced a fully eco-centric world-view that rejected anthropocentrism altogether. Had to be a form of thinking entirely within itself – not hybrid ideology.
Attempts to re-orientate people’s relationship with and appreciation of the non-human world. Transforms human consciousness and expands the range of our moral responsibilities.

Anthropocentricism Ecocentricism
	Modernist ecology (shallow)	Deep ecology
Core goal	Balance between ecology and capitalist modernity.	Paradigm shift: reject mechanistic/atomistic world view.
Holism	Limits to growth – environmental degradation ultimately threatens prosperity.	Radical holism – whole is more important than parts. James Lovelock called earth Gaia, the Greek name for the goddess of earth Argues that there is a balance to be kept. Nature has hardly changed and we are altering it without knowledge of the consequences
Sustainability	Sustainable development with mankind designing other ways for the planet to become more sustainable.	Industrialisation criticised through either capitalism or communism “Spaceship earth” used as a metaphor to help us to realise that there are finite resources Schumacher in “Small is beautiful” critical of our use of fossil fuels
Enivronmental Ethics	Modern liberal value - Enlightened anthropocentricism – individuals take into account long-term interests.	Goodin put forward green “theory of value” – resources should be valued as they come from a natural process Biocentric egalitarianism Arne Naess developed idea “equal right to live and bloom”
Self Actualisation	Concern for future generations – Burkean view	Balance is between personal fulfillment and nature Post materialism explains nature and political concerns and values in terms of economic development Maslow’s “hierarchy of needs” placing self- esteem and self actualisation above financial gain

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