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COLLECTION OF TEXTS Manifesto
Ecology
Ethics and Philosophy
Culture
Books/Films/Reviews Poems/Plays
Editorials; Petitions
Celebrating the Ecosphere
About the Authors |
This Web Site provides an introduction to ecocentrism, an emerging new way of seeing ourselves - Homo sapiens - in and on this Earth. Here, students of the relationship between humans and Nature will find a wide range of material exploring the Earth-centred philosophy from many valuation perspectives. Ecocentrism has been described as post-humanism, for it transfers the reality-spotlight from humanity to the Ecosphere, from the part to the whole. This outside-the-human focus brings with it new standards for thought, conduct and action on such seemingly intractable problems as world population, urbanization, globalization, maintenance of cultural diversity, and ethical duties to the Ecosphere with its varied natural ecosystems and their wild species. The ecocentric ethic provides a new basis from which to examine the questions of how we should value the natural Earth and its systems and of how people should live. Ecocentric ethics can also provide moral guidance to corporate and government policy makers and to individuals around the world for undoing the enormous past crimes against Nature, and for building economic systems and communities that are in harmony with the time-tested laws of the Ecosphere. Ecocentrism recognizes that the Ecosphere, rather than organisms, is the source of life, of creativity, of evolutionary design, and of all meaning. Human value systems have traditionally been inward-looking, preoccupied with the immediate concerns of the individual, and by extension, of society and culture. Ecocentric valuation invites a broader, outward-looking viewpoint. Questions are raised and some answers provided about the mysterious and miraculous Blue Planet upon whose creativity, stability and health the life, evolution, and well being of all organisms depends. We hope you will enjoy and learn from these many writings - which are intended to increase in number and scope in the months and years ahead. Please feel free to print out any of the material from this web site and to use it as a basis for discussion in your high school, university class or adult study group. It is requested that users of this material acknowledge the original published sources which are provided with each item.
 "EARTH, the dynamo of LIFE, with its swirling clouds, its running rivers and ocean currents, its slow-moving crustal plates and, in the midst of it all, the Organic Dance!" Photo by NASA |
