Our Relationship with the Ecosystem and Its Impact on Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

Out relationship with the ecosystem affects out treatment of it and out perception of sustainable agriculture. If we are honest with ourselves and live according to out espoused philosophy-or religion-we exalt one of four entities : the ecosystem (geocentrism), everything as essentially equal (acentrism), self and/or out species (anthropocentrism), or God (theocentrism). We must each ask ourselves if out individual philosophy leads to sustainability. Geocentrists believe that human life and welfare are less important than the rest of the ecosystem. Acentrists believe everything is one and part of one essence. Self, others, and the ecosystem are equally extolled. Anthropocentrists believe that people are above the ecosystem with no authority to hold them accountable for their treatment of the ecosystem. The ecosystem is something to be conquered since human interests are put above all other interests. Theocentrists believe that God is in charge and that we were.created in part as faithful stewards of the rest of the ecosystem. The geocentric view is not sustainable from a human perspective because geocentrists, in valuing themselves below the ecosystem, would ultimately remove themselves from it to conserve resources. Although the acentric view could be sustainable if believers indeed put everything on the same level as themselves, it does not happen in practice. As people think of themselves more humbly, they begin to think of the ecosystem even more humbly and abuse it. The tragedy of the commons illustrates that the anthropocentric view is not sustainable. The theocentric position is sustainable if believers follow the God-mandated plan of putting God and others above self and seeing themselves as faithful stewards of creation. Regardless of out beliefs, if we put self first, all creation (people as well as the ecosystem) will suffer.