Deep Ecology : A New Paradigm

By : Fritjof Capra

Contents:

Introduction
Crisis And Transformation

Deep Ecology The Mechanistic Worldview Domination & Control The Impasse Of Economics The New Paradigm New Values
Rising Culture

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Introduction

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There is a need for us To understand the major problems, Major problems like the threat of nuclear war, the devastation of our environment , the persistence of Poverty are yet to be overcome The Crisis has begun due to outdated concepts and Values which are being followed in the present generation and due to overlooking of facts like Over population , poverty , destroying nature , etc

Crisis And Transformation:

The Present World has Dominated the culture that has been followed by us for several hundred years, It has shaped our modern western society and Has significantly influenced the rest of the world.

This new Paradigm/model concentrates on human beings, their developments and needs for survival.. Its Belief, that unlimited material progress can be achieved throu economical and technological growth, has led to adverse effects which have affected both humans as well as Nature.

Deep Ecology
Deep Ecology can also be called a Holistic world view As it emphasizes the whole rather than the parts. It may also be called an Ecological Worldview,by using the term ecological In the sense of Deep ecology

The Term Deep Ecology Is A Concept Which Considers Human beings no more Important Than Other Species.
It Strongly emphasizes for the need of a readjustment of relationships between humans and Nature

Shallow Ecology
Shallow Ecology is Arthropocentric. It views Humans as above or outside Nature,as the source of all value And refers to nature as an instrument of Use. It is no longer adequate to Deal with the Major problems of today , most of which Involve threat to Non-Human forms of life The Difference between shallow and Deep ecology was given by the Philosopher Arne Naess in the late Seventies

The Mechanistic View (Shallow ecology):

It was developed by Galileo , Descartes , Bacon , Newton and Several others in the 17th Century. Descartes view was that man was a machine who could Be understood completely by analyzing in terms of its smaller Parts. He compared human body to clockwork just like how human Brain is compared to computer today..

This view of Descartes has been proved wrong as a man Has Emotions , sensation , wisdom , etc , while a machine Lacks them all.

Domination and Control (Shallow ecology)

Our science and technology are based on the belief that an understanding of nature implies domination of Nature by Man Before 17th century goals of Science were, wisdom , understanding The natural order and living in harmony. But after the 17th century the goal of science has been Knowledge that can be used to control , manipulate and Exploit nature Today both science and technology are used For purposes that are harmful and Dangerous

The Impasse Of Economics (Shallow Ecology)

Most Economists fail to realize that economics is merely an Aspect of a whole ecological and social fabric

The Policies made due to the framework of Conventional Economics are quite erroneous .
The assumption that all growth is good and More growth is always better overlooks human Ailments and fatal diseases.

The New Paradigm (Deep ecology)

It is the shift from the Shallow ecology to The deep ecology .This shift is necessary For our survival.

A new vision based on this paradigm is Now being developed by our researchers At the frontiers or science.
It considers all natural systems as a whole Where specific structures arise from the Interactions and interdependence of their parts The Deep ecological way of thinking is important not only for science and philosophy but also for our society and our daily Lives..