Introduction To Deep Ecology

Deep ecology is a way of life. A way of life that is shifting the way we view ourselves as humans. Deep ecology is the means of shifting the value of humans to non-human nature. Humans can no longer look at themselves as the sole entity of the ecosystem, but part of a whole that needs each part to successfully work. Fritjof Capra believes that shifting our views from the old world anthropocentric to new world non-anthropocentric is the key to the survival of the human race. Having anthropocentric views means that you believe that humans hold a higher value than nature does. Capra states that before the seventeen century scientific revolution, humans once held non-anthropocentric views. Humans viewed themselves as part of the natural order of life and scientists believed that humans should work in synch with nature. This thinking changed during the seventeen century scientific revolution, when the goals of scientists changed from working in synch with nature to controlling nature. This shift in thinking and values greatly changed the views of humans from non-anthropocentric to anthropocentric. For many years now, humans have held anthropocentric views and values, but Capra pleads that humans shift their thinking once again to the new paradigm that is deep ecology. Deep ecology, as Capra states, “is now crucial for our well-being--even for our survival!-- and such a shift is indeed occurring.” Capra believes that deep ecology will change the way that we as humans see nature as well as our daily lives. One of the main reasons why we do not already see deep ecology values in our daily lives is because, as Arne Naess insists, “if professional ecologists persist in voicing their value priorities, their jobs are often in danger, or they tend to lose influence and status among those who are in charge of overall policies.” Naess believes that the current policies of ecology are founded on shallow, short-term human interests, which desperately need to change.