Interpreting nature and politics in the history of Western thought: The environmentalist challenge

Meyer, John M.

doi:10.1080/09644019908414459

Cited by 12 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Indigenous people believe their art reflects that humans are part of nature. By contrast, much of Western thought is based on a dualistic view of nature (that humans are apart from nature), although there are also strong strands that recognise humans as part of nature (Meyer 1999). To prevent environmental collapse, it will be necessary for humans to accept that humans and non‐human nature are connected and interdependent.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Creating inspiration: The role of the arts in creating empathy for ecological restoration

Curtis¹

2009

Eco Management Restoration

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Summary Australia’s natural areas have long been a source of inspiration for artists. Some of this art is a response to the natural environment or represents it in some way, and some is exhibited or performed in the natural environment itself. The objectives of this article are to: investigate the relationship between art and the artists who create it and people who make a living in extension, landcare or on the land; and, develop an understanding of whether the arts can encourage an emotional affinity with the natural environment. Eighty‐nine key informant interviews were conducted in Australia, the UK, USA, Canada and Norway, including people working in the arts and people working in natural resources management. Those in the latter group were people who either (i) worked in an extension (outreach) or community facilitation capacity, or (ii) people who played a voluntary role with community on‐ground restoration projects or who showed exemplary behaviour towards the environment. All the people working in natural resources management cited examples of visual or performing arts that they had found inspiring, that encapsulated or defined their attitudes towards the natural environment, or which reinforced their attitudes towards the natural environment. From these interviews, the idea of ‘chains of inspiration’ emerged. Each of the ‘chains’ began with people who worked directly on the environment. These people were in turn influenced or inspired by particular art from which they gained an emotional affinity towards the environment. The chains then progressed to the artists who created the art. All of the chains ended up with the natural environment from which the artists drew their inspiration. The paper concludes that by providing an emotional affinity or empathy for the natural environment, art can have a major role in influencing pro‐environmental attitudes.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Creating inspiration: The role of the arts in creating empathy for ecological restoration

Curtis¹

2009

Eco Management Restoration

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“…Scholars have begun to recognise the importance of moving beyond a dualistic focus of humans and nature to conceptualise humans as 'part of nature'. Applying an ecological worldview, Meyer (1999) proposed that 'humans and non-human nature are necessarily connected and hence interdependent' (p. 3). Despite a growing recognition of the interconnections between humans and nature, a common language has yet to be found to situate human as 'part of nature'.…”

Section: Defining 'Nature'mentioning

confidence: 99%

Getting down to earth: Finding a place for nature in social work practice

Heinsch

2011

Int J Soc Welfare

106

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Heinsch M. Getting down to earth: Finding a place for nature in social work practice According to Wilson's biophilia hypothesis, people have an innate need to associate with the natural world, and this connection can enhance their physical and psychological well‐being. This hypothesis has sparked an interest in the health benefits of human connection with non‐human nature across a wide range of disciplines backed by evidence of the role of the natural environment in enhancing human well‐being. This article summarises the literature on the health benefits of nature, arguing for the application and positive impact of a nature‐based approach in social work. It challenges practitioners to recognise and articulate the role of the physical environment in their day‐to‐day practice. Implications for social work are identified in recommendations for enhancing opportunities to include non‐human nature in future social work practice.

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“…In such formulations dualism carries a heavy load, being responsible for many of the ills of knowledge construction since the Enlightenment. As John Meyer (1999) notes, critique of dualism has represented a common tactic in the social science treatment of nature where Western thought is frequently portrayed as co‐extensive with the ‘cleavage between humanity and nature’ (Meyer, 1999: 7). Yet as Meyer (1999) further observes, it is naïve to assert this dualistic tradition if only because of the commonality of anti‐dualist sentiment within Western thought.…”

Section: Beyond Anti‐dualismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Meyer, this has included the likes of ‘St Francis of Assissi, Spinoza, Emerson, Thoreau, Kropotkin and Heidegger’ (Meyer, 1999: 10). Meyer asserts that such writers cannot be discounted as a ‘minority tradition’, and in consequence, we need ‘call into question . .…”

Section: Beyond Anti‐dualismmentioning

confidence: 99%