Writing Assignment #5 -Jason Lord

In pages 26-56 of the novel “Communicating Nature” author Julia B. Corbett breaks down the spectrum of environmental ideologies that makes up environmentalism. She analyzes the extremes from, anthropocentricism, or a human centered ideology, to biocentricism, an eco-centered, non-hierarchical mix of interdependent relationships. Just as there are numerous ideologies in politics, the same can be said for environmental ideologies. Though they are not commonly known, all of these different ideologies are present in everyday life. She states that by adulthood, most adults have a firm foundation of an individual environmental ideology which influences their communication to others, and how they interpret others communication. She provides this background of different environmental ideologies so that people will understand where environmental messages are coming from. After reading this chapter it is clear that environmentalism isn’t just one belief, but instead a combination of a broad spectrum of beliefs.

Just as politics has a spectrum for an individual’s ideology, it is important for there to be environmental ideologies. This provides a classification for people to distinguish where there beliefs lie. Just as a person may lean right or left in politics, an individual can classify themselves for their environmental ideology as leaning towards anthropocentrism or biocentrism. Having ideologies that are in the middle, or special interest focused, allows for individuals to pick and choose different ideologies that they most align with. Just as a person may lean right in politics over all, but be able to align with some democratic beliefs, like abortion for example. Having an environmental spectrum is the same idea. Spectrums allow for all colors and beliefs, instead of it being just black and white on ideological issues.

Chapter 2: A Spectrum of Environmental Ideologies

Bryn Morgan

Summary:

The second chapter deals with differing ideologies in the environmental world, and how to make sense of them. Corbett defines an environmental ideology as “a way of thinking about the natural world that a person uses to justify actions toward it.” These ideologies have endpoints that start with anthropocentric, and end with ecocentric. Corbett emphasizes the importance of distinguishing a person’s belief system, from what their actual behavior is because it the two do not necessarily go hand-in-hand.

Corbett starts with “Unrestrained Instrumentalism” to describe the gradient of environmental ideologies. Here, there is a belief that world revolves around humans, and the world’s resources are ripe for the picking. Nothing is limited, and humans are given priority above all else.  Next, is “conservationism,” which recognizes that there should be some effort to conserve resources for future generations. The idea of conservationism is still centralized around humans, and the desire to avoid damaging nature only for future human benefits. Thirdly, Corbett describes “preservationism” and its purpose to support conserving resources for future generations, as well as for reasons that “go beyond their purely instrumental value.” However, there is still some criticism found in preservationism and how it determines “value” of nature by a subjective human experience. A more progressive ideology, is the “ethics and values-driven” ideology. This moves toward giving non-human entities intrinsic value or inherent worth. So aside from how these entities benefit humans, they are intrinsic for themselves, by themselves. This ideology explains that humans need not a large role in the natural system of nature. Lastly, Corbett explains “transformative ideologies,” which question the dominant environmental ideologies and move to bring change in the social world. Corbett uses several examples to describe this ideology, including ecological sensibility, deep ecology, social ecology, ecofeminism, Native American ideologies, and Eastern traditions.

Corbett uses the ties between all these ideologies to illustrate the fact that there is indeed a place for humans within them, and the key is finding an interdependent relationship between humans and the larger biotic community.

Reflection:

Corbett did a really great job of creating ties between each ideology, and giving detailed descriptions of the progression from one to another. I like the fact that she points out how one ideology may start out sympathetic toward nature, but in the end it fails to be very progressive. It really makes me reconsider the whole “green” movement, and the motives behind it all. Is it just another marketing scam for companies to profit off of? Or do they really have intentions to save the environment? If they do have good intentions, are those intentions more about preserving resources for future generations, like Corbett talks about, or are they really for preserving the ecosystem itself? These questions started haunting me the minute I finished the second chapter. While I think the “green” movement has succeeded in bringing awareness to the situation, I don’t think it has questioned the dominant environmental ideologies and called for an extensive social change.

Chapter 2

In the chapter the concept of anthropocentrism and ecocentric are defined as differing environmental ideologies. Anthropocentrism and its few sub-sectional ideologies, such as conservationism, are environmental beliefs driven by human hierarchy in the natural world. This being, humans are at the top of the pyramid of life and have the rights to use the natural world as their means of survival. Ecocentrism is the ideology, which includes ethics and value driven ideologies, that all living things must co-exist in a balance to keep the planet in equilibrium. This being, not only do humans have rights to take what they need to survive- in reasonable portions, but all living things have the same rights.
Reflection:
As the chapter began, I was under the impression that majority of the world functions with a anthropocentric ideological outlook on the environment. We continue to multiply and take more and more natural resources, plants, and animals lives to survive. But then I realized there would be no awareness of ANY sort had there not been at least someone out there functioning under an ecocentric outlook on the world. There are so many organizations, laws, individuals, and tools that are driven towards making our world function ecocentrically. It’s all just a matter of utilization and balance of consumption.

Communicating Nature Summary and Reflection (Pg 25-56)

Summary

In Chapter 2 of Communicating Nature by Julia Corbett the author discusses the spectrum of environmental ideologies. She begins by discussing how many people only consider the ideas of conservation and preservation. Corbett points out that many people are unaware of what the terms mean. The author then lists out a full spectrum of environmental ideologies based on what is more anthropocentric (human centered), or ecocentric (nature centered). Corbett then discusses this scale of environmental ideologies. After this Corbett begins to describe ethics and values-driven ideologies including animal rights and land-based ethics. Corbett then writes about transformative ideologies including ecological sensibility, deep ecology, social ecology, and ecofeminism. Corbett then finishes by discussing environmental ideology in terms of Native American culture and Eastern culture.

Reflection

Having taken many environmental based classes throughout high school and college as well as having grown up near Roosevelt National Forest and Rocky Mountain National Park, the concept of environmental ideologies is not a new concept to me. None of the issues raised or discussed in the chapter particularly caught my attention, although I think Corbett did an excellent job laying out the spectrum of environmental ideology very well. I myself tend to embrace the ideology of environmental conservation with the acknowledgment that in some areas preservation is a better land use strategy. This tends to be the general environmental policy within the United States and many other countries around the world. I tend not to lean too far to the ecocentric side of the spectrum as I do believe that part of what makes us human is the ability to control and change our environment. This may be a result of my upbringing in a nation that is strongly Christian. The idea of religion and environmental ideology is an idea that intrigues me.

-John Heikes