subject: Mature Psychology Environmental Questions to Ponder? : Philosophical approach [print this page] Mature Psychology Environmental Questions to Ponder? : Philosophical approach
21 Q's for weekend
1 Human beings have the right to alter nature radically?
2 Technological progress will enable us to solve environmental problems in the future?
3 Human beings have more value than nature?
4 Because I can think, I am more important than nature?
5 We must especially protect animals that are useful for human beings?
6 Human beings have a responsibility to conserve the natural environment?
7 We have to ensure that we leave enough nature intact for future generations?
8 Although we stand above nature, we do need to take good care of it?
9 Human beings are part of nature and are also responsible for it?
10 People and nature are of equal value?
11 Nature wants to grow, prosper and develop, just like humans do?
12 We must not set ourselves above nature, but must work together with it?
13 I would like to have a relationship with nature just like I have with my friends?
14 I can have a relationship with nature just like I have with my friends?
15 When I am surrounded by nature I experience something greater than mankind?
16 I often feel an intense connection with nature?
17 I would like to spend a week entirely alone in the forest, in order to feel one with nature?
18 Human beings are part of nature?
19 I sometimes feel one with the universe?
20 It would be wonderful to join the wild geese on their yearly journey?
21 Natural sites are important, even if they are not useful to us human beings?
All the while, the prevailing world view in the West was regarded as a given. Nobody really questioned to what extent the image of Mastery over nature as the predominantWestern world view would actually be true. Does the public in Western societies really adhere to that image? That is one of the questions we will address here, based on a survey in northwestern Europe. As it will show, the primary answer is that in people's own "folk philosophy", Mastery over nature is strongly rejected and that other, much more ecocentric visions in fact predominate visions that show a remarkable congruence with notions from academic environmental ethics.
