EVR 3020

Session 8: Nested Ecology

Reading Assignment: Attfield, Robin, (2018) Chapter 7: "Environmental Ethics and Religion"; Edward Wimberley, Nested Ecology, Chapters 4-5; Wallerstein, Immanuel (1976) " The Modern World System," in Immanuel Wallerstein's The Modern World-System: Capitalist Agricullture and the Origins of the European World Economy in the Sixteenth Century. New York, NY: Academic Press, pp. 229-233; Lynn Whyte's "The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis"; Richard T. Wright (1970) "Responsibility for the Ecological Crisis." Emily Warde (1995) "Christianity and The Environment: The Lynn Whyte Controversy."

Video Assignment: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs; Bioecological Approaches to Learning; Resilient social-ecological systems: How? (Nobel Winner Elinor Ostrom); Systems Theory; Immanuel Wallerstein's World System Theory; World System Analysis; Systems Thinking Animation; Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Theory; Bronfenbrenner Ecological Map

Homework Assignment:

1. In what ways does the author discuss nested ecology in this session's readings?
2. When Wimberley uses the term "necessary anthropocentrism" in Chapter 4 of Nested Ecology, what is he referring to and why does he think the concept is important to environmental philosophy?
3. Describe the levels of "nested ecology found in Wimberley's book.
4. What is "cosmic ecology" and how does this relate to religion?
5. What is Lynn Whyte's critique of the Judeo-Christian contribution to environmental destruction."
6. Describe the "controversy" that has followed the publication of "The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis"?
7. According to the author Richard T. Wright, what is wrong with Whyte's critique?
8. Describe Wallerstein concept of the "modern world system."
9. Explain how Maslow and Bronfenbrenner's work relates to Wimberley's nested ecology approach.