Representing Nature
In: Capitalism, nature, socialism: CNS ; a journal of socialist ecology, Band 9, S. 61-65
ISSN: 1045-5752
Contends that contemporary green theorists (1) endorse nature & ecology while perceiving human intervention as threatening & (2) emphasize the role of culture in creating nature. Despite the differences in each definition's conception of nature, both explanations are important for attempting to clarify humankind's relationship with the nonhuman world. It is contended that both definitions raise contrasting accounts of truth & authenticity in relation to the nonhuman world. Although both definitions' tendency to perpetuate anthropocentricity is not deemed deplorable, it is maintained that human beings should not overlook nonhuman nature's role in fulfilling human needs & concerns. Humankind & nonhuman nature are strictly differentiated by the former's concern with cultural transcendence. Noting that Karl Marx identified the devastating nature of cultural transcendence, the ability of contemporary humankind to develop an ecologically sensitive approach to the human/nonhuman nature dilemma is questioned. Recommendations for constructing an ecological-socialist approach to answering the proposed question are offered. J. W. Parker