Deep Ecology: Gaia Theory, Earth, Ecosystems, Spiritual And Holistic Health

Denizens of the world now flourish in a society enhanced a great degree by intangible things. WiFi connections keep laptops running the internet smoothly, sometimes throughout entire cities. Cell phones also keep people connected and concomitantly free to roam without fear of losing a friend's call. However, with all of technological advances of the world, sometimes the subtly tangible things go unnoticed. Such was the case with global climate change, until Nobel Prize-winner Vice President Al Gore brought it to the attention of the world. Decades before Gore's rise to fame on the lecturing circuit, though, deep ecology has long concerned its followers with humanity's effect on the world and how people interconnect with Earth.

The deep ecology term first appeared in work from Arnie Naess of Norway in 1972. Since its originations, deep ecology has probably grown beyond the expectations the philosopher might have originally envisioned. Set upon a generation living through the tumultuous 60s and 70s, deep ecology met a fertile ground for growth. Its basic principles require humans to recognize a kind of Gaia theory of the world, where all aspects of the environment work together with equal importance to make up Earth as it sees itself. Moving beyond an anthropocentric view of the world, deep ecology also demands that people identify not necessarily as their parts in family and friend networks, but rather interactive beings with the planet. Through the Gaia theory of interwoven lifeforms, then, humans can more accurately interpret their own significance in the world and make decisions accordingly.

Deep ecology often associates closely with a kind of holistic health for humans and their surroundings. In recognizing a spiritual bond with the world, people improve on personal well-being in helping sustain global and local ecosystems. A heightened sense of deep ecology often inspires people toward simple living amongst unsullied ecosystems alongside the general promotion of wildlife conservation. Some social ecologists also include a lack of deep ecology in the basis for marginalization of certain sexes, countries and races the world over. Hence, deep ecology proponents suggest it as a means of better comprehending the world's economic plights, as well as those afflicting people personally on a spiritual level.

People increasingly take for granted the unseen technological improvements that make day-to-day life so much easier than in the past. Before growing too enamored with the status quo, people deserve to give deep ecology a fair chance as a life philosophy, if not to improve in holistic health in connection with the planet, then at least to offer solutions for the hotly contested global climate change debate. After all, having the opportunity to wirelessly connect to the internet helps people do their jobs more efficiently, but having the opportunity to breathe helps people do their jobs in the first place.


Sources:
Atkisson, Alan. "Introduction to Deep Ecology." Global Climate Change (1989): 24. 19 Oct. 2007 http://www.context.org/ICLIB/IC22/Zimmrman.htm.

Parkins, Keith. "Deep Ecology." Gaia. March 2000. 19 Oct. 2007 http://www.heureka.clara.net/gaia/deep-eco.htm.

"The Preserve." Shawagunk Nature Preserve. Shawangunk Nature Preserve. 19 Oct. 2007 http://www.shawangunknaturepreserve.com/thepreserv e.htm.