Lecture 11 - The Environment
World view of Modernism - substitutes
the technosphere (man-made things) for the biosphere (living things).
Problems may be solved by economics and science/technology.
e.g. malnutrition and famine - solve by economic development - but
may also give ecological degradation.
The GAIA hypothesis - formed
by James Lovelock, Disturb the Earth's processes and it will react
to restore the status quo. There is a stability.
The Unity of Nature - many organisms
are interdependent - "mutualism".
Nature often personified as "MOTHER
NATURE".
Deep Ecology (Arne Naess)
- no boundaries between man and nature
- related to Zen "the self and ultimate reality are one".
- seeks to change focus from ANTROPOCENTRISM (man at the centre)
to Nature at the centre. There is no hierarchy of species.
Eco-Philosophy (Skolimowski).
Has a spiritual element
Criticises deep ecologists - they are secular humanists and avoid
discussion of eschatology.
Principle of compassion to all sentient beings has evolved.
- compare Tibetan Buddhist teaching
-compare Christian teaching which is revealed by the prophets and
by Jesus.
Teilhard de Chardin - evolution has
a spiritual character - "things are getting better".
Skolimowski: Universe is a sanctuary. We are its guardians
and stewards.
Postmodern Ecological Worldview
- Charles Birch.
Panentheism.
Everything has a mind. Escherichia Coli adapts to its environment.
All matter has consciousness.
"Things that feel are made up of things that feel."
Electrons and people have different degrees of responsiveness and
feeling.
Francis Schaeffer
GOD
Personal Infinite
Humans |
======= chasm
chasm========| Humans
Animals | Animals
Plants | Plants
Machines | Machines
Genesis 1:26 - "Man in the image
of God".
Genesis 2:7 - "God formed man from the dust of the ground and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life."
What is our attitude to the environment?
Genesis 1:28 - "... fill the Earth and subdue it, and rule
over the fish ...".
All belongs to God. Psalm 104:24 - "... the Earth is full of
thy possessions."
We do not own the things in this world
We are God's stewards in his garden.
But - the environment is unfriendly
Genesis 3:17-19 - "Cursed is the ground ... thorns and thistles
it shall grow...".
Romans 8:22 - "The whole creation groans and suffers ..."
All part of the fall.
Due to sin - breaking God's commandments.
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