Edward Abbey's Deep Ecology

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Edward Abbey’s Deep Ecology

In a growing world of consumerism, some questions exist on the horizon of our generation. Is our population growing too fast? Should we save the wilderness? Should we take measures now to save the wilderness? Consequently when pondering these, some new questions arise. Do we value consumerism more than our natural habitat? Are our non vital needs more important than the earth’s needs? These questions are the basis of the philosophical theory of deep ecology. A theory developed by philosopher Arne Naess and George Sessions in 1984 (McLaughlin, pg 2). An idea that human non vital needs are not more important than nature’s needs ( Palmer,299). Deep ecology is centered around two basic principals: First that we must see the world in a ecocentric view rather than an anthropocentric view. This would allow us to focus on the needs of every life system on the planet rather than just human needs. Second, that all humans need to experience some self realization: “ Instead of identifying with our egos or our immediate families, we would learn to identify with trees, animals and plants, indeed the whole ecosphere.” (Zimmerman)
Perhaps one of the most influential philosophers of deep ecology is the author Edward Abbey. Decades ahead of his time, Abbey addressed and provided his answers to those questions that our society will most certainly be facing in the future. He has written twenty books, twelve of which are non fictional, describing his experiences in the american wilderness. Born in Pennsylvania, Ed Abbey spent most of his adult life in the wilderness of the American west writing to defend it from being turned into another human settlement. The essay “Freedom and Wilderness” from The Journey Home-some words in defense of the American West, Provides us with his look specifically correlating with the ideas of deep ecology.

We need wilderness because we are wild animals...
Because...