Ecologism

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The term ecologism (also ecoism ) denotes an ideology or behavior of individuals as external allocation in the political opinion struggle . The term (“ecologism”), which originally came from the English-speaking world, is used there in the sense of a commitment that clearly exceeds mere environmentalism (“environmentalism”). Proponents of ecologism consider far-reaching upheavals in the relationship between humans and nature to be necessary and the current social and political order to be inherently incapable of sustainability . Part of this belief is reflected in the positions of deep ecology .

When translated into German, the use as a pejorative external name became predominant, assuming that environmental concerns and political ecology were placed above other important human concerns.

Behaviors in which the will to “do something” is in the foreground and not the benefit in the sense of ecology are also referred to as ecological behavior . While the environmental benefit is often only assumed or is intended to compensate for other behavior, the desire for a "good feeling" and moral superiority prevail. While a passive house is being lived in, the SUV is then in the garage, or green electricity is obtained - without knowing whether the offering company is really investing in the expansion of renewable energies . (see also: Greenwashing )

Ecologism as a political ideology

According to political scientist Andrew Dobson , ecologism has all the characteristics of a political ideology and should therefore be seen in a row with other established ideologies such as conservatism , liberalism or socialism . Like these other ideologies, ecologism also offers an analytical description of society, presupposes a certain desirable form of society and contains a program for political action. Michael Kenny also calls ecologism an ideology. However, he emphasizes that the Greens reject this term and sees this in connection with the fact that ideological criticism is one of the roots of their movement. For the historian Joachim Radkau , after the decline of socialism, “ecologism remains worldwide as the only ideological alternative to the absolute hegemony of private profit and consumption”.

Approaches and criticism of a specific environmental and responsibility ethic

Eugen Drewermann already sees an anthropocentrism in the Christian-Jewish creation tradition , which inevitably leads to environmental destruction and violence. Also some representatives of a rigid thinking geared towards the maintenance of natural states of equilibrium turn against an opposing anthropocentrism. It is criticized that since the beginning of modernity, humans have been increasingly perceived as being isolated from ecological and sometimes even social contexts. The emphatically rational thinking that dominates scientific research has also led to the instrumentalization of nature for human purposes.

In order to overcome anthropocentrism and the associated environmental crisis, a specific environmental ethic was developed that provides for a new value system and a new understanding of how human beings are integrated into ecology. This approach is based on the fact that a change in basic social values ​​goes hand in hand with changed behavior. In this context, the philosopher Hans Jonas , based on Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative, coined the term ecological imperative in the early 1980s , which says:

"Act in such a way that the effects of your actions are compatible with the permanence of real human life on earth."

Civilization, according to Jonas' message, is heading towards self-destruction. All people are called to take responsibility and to oppose the threat of destruction.

Heidbrink states that there are no ecological catastrophes and a new lack of clarity. He considers the talk of the “principle of responsibility” to be more of a symptom of “normative helplessness”, which has not prevented the responsibility for necessary personal actions from being increasingly delegated to experts or state authorities. But responsibility must be aware of its conditions and limits. The attribution of responsibility must follow social rules that make risks accountable, i.e. assessable and insurable.

Economic views in conflict

Murray Bookchin emphasized that the existence of people in itself is not a cause of environmental degradation, but saw the problem in certain social and economic structures, especially in capitalism . Bookchin contributed to the development of eco-anarchism with his writings . Jonathon Porritt , on the other hand, approaches classic environmental protection and ideas of a green market economy .

Ecologism from the point of view of its critics

Criticism of ecologism is directed primarily against elements that are perceived as romanticist or quasi-religious. The evolutionary biologist and ecologist Josef H. Reichholf considers the idea of ​​a “balance of nature” to be the fundamental error of a “religious ecologism”, since ecosystems are always in flux. Everything in equilibrium is lifeless, dead.

Environmental activists such as Claude Martin, former director general of the WWF , also warn against ecological strategies that would severely restrict one's own options for action and rule out dialogue and cooperation from the outset.

literature

  • Brian Baxter: Ecologism: An Introduction . Edinburgh University Press, 2000, ISBN 978-0-7486-1177-5
  • Andrew Dobson: Green Political Thought . Routledge, Fourth Edition 2007, ISBN 978-0-415-40352-8
  • Michael Kenny: Ecologism , in: Robert Eccleshall et al .: Political Ideologies: An Introduction . Routledge, Third Edition 2003, pp. 151-180. ISBN 978-0-415-23678-2
  • Mark J. Smith: Ecologism: Towards Ecological Citizenship . Open University Press, 1998, ISBN 978-0-8166-3301-2

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Klaus von Beyme: Political Theories in the Age of Ideologies p. 33
  2. ↑ Newer (2007, Social Policy: By John Baldock, Nick Manning, Nicholas Manning, Sarah Vickerstaff. Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-928497-0 ) British studies indicate that German usage in the English-speaking world has been adopted. According to this, "ecologism" would be an ideology according to which environmental problems take precedence over all other concerns. Social structures that contribute to environmental pollution should be abolished, growth limited and anthropocentric thinking reduced, the future oriented towards harmony with nature
  3. ↑ Oona Horx-Strathern, We're building a future house: A family drama in three acts, chapter: Ecoism and Urban Gardening
  4. ^ Andrew Dobson: Green Political Thought . Routledge, Fourth Edition 2007, ISBN 978-0-415-40352-8
  5. ↑ Michael Kenny: Ecologism , in: Robert Eccleshall et al .: Political Ideologies: An Introduction . Routledge, Third Edition 2003, pp. 151-180. ISBN 978-0-415-23678-2
  6. ↑ Joachim Radkau: Nature and Power. World history of the environment. , CHBeck Verlag, 2002 ISBN 978-3-406-48655-5 , quoted from woz.ch ( memento of October 20, 2007 in the web archive archive.today )
  7. ↑ Drewermann, E. (1981): The fatal progress - from the destruction of the earth and man in the legacy of Christianity. Regensburg: F. Pustel, 187 pp.
  8. ↑ Hans Jonas: The principle of responsibility - an attempt at ethics for technological civilization. Suhrkamp Verlag 1984, ISBN 3-518-37585-7
  9. ^ A b Ludger Heidbrink: Critique of Responsibility . Velbrück publishing house; December 2003 ISBN 3-934730-69-8
  10. ↑ Interview with Ludger Heidbrink in "Society with limited liability" Why humans will not stop climate change . By Martin Hubert, Deutschlandradio, Wissenschaft im Brennpunkt December 9, 2007
  11. ^ Jonathon Porritt: Capitalism: As if the World Matters . Earthscan, 2nd edition 2007, ISBN 978-1-84407-193-7
  12. ↑ Josef H. Reichholf: The false prophets - Our pleasure in catastrophes.
  13. ↑ Interview with ex-WWF General Director Claude Martin at OnlineReports.ch