What Is The Theme Of Anthropocentrism

“The Land Ethic” is an essay written by Aldo Leopald in order to convince readers of a new view centered around the biotic community and the rejection of anthropocentrism. It continually supports non-human life along with human life as long as it is beneficial to the biotic community.

Chapter one in the book, Human Geography, gives a timeline of the changes that have occurred since the creation of planet Earth. The author, John Rennie Short, explained how truly powerful the earth itself is. It has the ability to wipe out humanity. We often blame nature when natural disasters happen, but perhaps the human race may have something to do with the cause of environmental hazards like volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, and earthquakes.

* The Origin of Man * The Nature of Man * The Dominion of Man * The Environment of Man

In the poem, it is the human race that is systematically eliminating what is left of the remains of earth’s nature.

In the poem there is also an idea of man verses nature, this relates to the survival of the fittest. John Foulcher shows this through the use of first person point of view. For example in the second stanza “Then above me the sound drops” this again possesses sensory imagery creating a deeper human aura throughout the poem. Foulcher further uses a human aura to build a sense of natural imagery for example in the last stanza : “I pick up these twigs and leave them” adding closure

Anthropocentrism are people who have centered view of our relationship with the environment. People who follow this ethic are described as those who deny, or overlook and devalues the notion of nonhuman things. Biocentrism is defined as intrinsic value to certain living things or to biotic realm in general. In this life the human life and nonhuman life both have ethical standing. Ecocentrism judges actions in terms of their effects on whole ecological systems which consists of living and nonliving elements and their interrelationships (Wihgottt & Laposata, Environment, page

insight into his life and personality that he is not aware of giving. While the poet

Journal #9. Page 101- “The defining feature of the anthropocence is the transformative role played by our own species.”

“Poetry is more primitive than prose. It existed before prose and will exist afterward, it is not domesticated, it is wilder and more natural” (qtd. in Hunt, “Prose”). Robinson Jeffers said this about poetry, and a reader can feel this in his poems. Jeffers lived an interesting and fulfilling life. He enjoyed the solitude of his home on Carmel Point, and spending time with his family. He wrote during the Modern Era, but he didn’t write like a modernist. Jeffers wrote as if he was speaking with the reader. “Hurt Hawks” was criticized by Tim Hunt. Hunt said that it was one of Jeffers’s greatest poems. Another appreciated poem, “Oh Lovely Rock”, has been analyzed as well. His descriptive setting makes it feel real to a reader. Robinson Jeffers was a prominent, award winning, American poet in the Modern Era who changed the format of poetry with his prophetic and enlightening writings including “Hurt Hawks” and “Oh Lovely Rock”.

Humankind is devoid of concerns towards the world that shelters them. In e.e cummings poem “Pity this monster, manunkind” is satirical criticism towards how people are evolving only to damage nature. The theme of the poem is opposition, and the author structures his poem’s form, content, punctuation and tone to complement his claim. In this poem, the author expresses his point by stating mankind is self-centered, he defends nature and natural life, and that it is useless to believe that mankind will make adequate changes to benefit nature.

Environmental history explores a variety of topics in order to connect nature to humans. In doing so, a new history emerges. As this history unveils itself, it becomes evident that throughout time, humans have taken it upon themselves to improve the nonhuman world for their own gains. Numerous scholars have contemplated this idea, and while they do not all agree on the meaning or the means of improvement upon the land, it remains a constant theme. By exploring the theme of improvement to land, a clear path forms. The idea of improvement in environmental history creates artificial agency for humans, as well as revealing that improvement cannot happen without having an adverse effect on humans.

Kant’s approach to animals and the treatment of them is examined. His approach has a basis of egocentric ideals which can be found, and should be left in, an earlier era. First, I explain his second categorical imperative and how it is applicable to humans but excludes animals. I argue Kant’s second categorical imperative in regards to it only being applicable to humans through his definition of “humanity”. Second, I investigate how Kant believes we should treat animals and his justification for theorizing it. I reason Kant’s assumption that animals are not rational or unable to be self-conscious. Third, I look at Kant’s underlining assumptions of animals and the natural world around him. I allege Kant’s assumptions on animals may lead to environmental degradation. Through this paper I aim to disprove Kant’s assumptions about animals and how his views may perpetuate further damage to the environment.

Val Plumwood in her essay “Paths Beyond Human-Centeredness,” illustrates the impact that humans have on nature and non-animals when it comes to preserving environments. Understanding that nature has it’s living properties that let it thrive among its resources allows for people to grasp the complexities that come about when construction companies destroy the environment in which they work. Plumwood uses the term dualism to refer to the sharp distinction between two classes of individuals. There is the high class, which is considered as the “One.” In contrast, the other side of the division consists of individuals that are classified as lower and are subordinates to the “One” as “Others.” This account on dualism allows the reader to understand how humans can significantly alter the environment because of the way they perceive its resources and inhabitants. Plumwood defines five characteristics that illustrate the oppressive actions that change the connection between human relations and the relationship between humans and nature.

The Abolition of Man by C. S Lewis covers the position of the human being giving a philosophical view of how they take various positions when understanding the nature around them. By using many examples from the nature and the way the human being and nature work together, the writer makes a point that we cannot conquer nature without being conquered by it. He suggests that everything we say or feel is basically a reflection of our own which we apply to the things we see. A very famous example is used in the writing where it says when humans say something about a waterfall such as that it’s beautiful, they are actually not describing the waterfall but what they feel about it inside of them.

The arguments for speciesism cover a large span of human’s self interests. We are desensitized through culture, tradition, religion, and convenience, all of which propagate man’s dominion, and “supremacy” over all other sentient beings; similarly, Adolph Hitler’s claimed Germany’s superiority over other races and its God given destiny to rule the world and everyone in it..