Radical Ecology: The Search for a Livable World

Laura Pulido, Carolyn Merchant

Economic Geography · 1993 · 501 citations · 0 references

Concepts

TL;DR

Radical Ecology responds to the profound environmental crisis of the late twentieth century, noting that laws, regulations, and scientific research alone cannot reverse pollution or restore resources. Carolyn Merchant examines the philosophical, ethical, scientific, and economic roots of environmental problems and argues that new social, economic, scientific, and spiritual approaches are needed to transform human relationships with nature and sustain life. She analyzes the revolutionary ideas of visionary ecologists leading social change and assesses their efforts to bring environmental problems to public attention.

Abstract

Radical Ecology responds to the profound awareness of vironmental crisis which prevails in this closing decade of the twentieth century. Carolyn Merchant examines the major philosophical, ethical, scientific and economic roots of environmental problems and identifies the ways in which radical ecologists can transform science and society in order to sustain life. Laws, regulations and scientific research alone cannot reverse the spread of pollution or restore our dwindling resources. Merchant argues that in order to maintain a liveable world, we must formulate new social, economic, scientific and spiritual approaches that will transform human relationships with nature. She analyses the revolutionary ideas of visionary ecologists, at the forefront of social change and assesses their efforts to bring environmental problems to the attention of the public.