Arne Naess Research Articles

Ben Okri’s Eco-Imagination in Every Leaf a Hallelujah (2021): An Afropolitan Approach

There are possibly myriad approaches to an examination of Sir Ben Okri’s African folktale, Every Leaf a Hallelujah (2021), that sings the praises of Mother Nature’s ability to transform human nature. Premised on the phenomenology of the eco-imagination that adopts Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka’s Imaginatio Creatrix as the pivotal force of the genesis/ontopoiesis of human life and reality, coupled with Arne Naess’s notion of “deep ecology” that likewise emphasises the intrinsic interconnectedness of all lifeforms and geophysical features on Planet Earth, the discussion shows that Every Leaf a Hallelujah implicitly explores the developmental phenomenology of perception via Achille Mbembe’s notion of Afropolitanism. It does this through the agency of the innocent prescience of a small Nigerian girl child, the seven-year-old Mangoshi who is attuned to the choral voices of nature. Writing against the rift of the prevalent Western belief in a nature that is utilitarian or where nature serves human needs, this article is embedded in an African eco-critical imaginary that investigates the interrelationship between human nature and Mother Nature from an Afropolitan literary perspective in which there is a mythic conjunction between humans and nature, as well as art and science. Echoing Tymieniecka’s phenomenology of life and the human creative condition, the argument concludes that Every Leaf a Hallelujah represents a significant contribution to contemporary discourse on conservation for sustainability.

Pupils’ reflections on experiences and feelings in meditation in nature: an intercultural ecopedagogical praxis in outdoor education

Educational praxis incorporating intercultural wisdom, transdisciplinary cooperation, and nature-culture dialogues can arguably contribute to the UN’s education for sustainable development (ESD) and ameliorate current social-ecological challenges. This article elucidates how 14 Norwegian pupils aged 11–13 reflect on their experiences and feelings in meditation in nature (MiN) – an intercultural ecopedagogical praxis grounded on two corresponding philosophical ecopedagogies: Daoism and Arne Naess’ ecosophy. The pupils participated in MiN as part of outdoor education in a local environment and provided reflections through semi-structured focus group interviews. By engaging in MiN and embracing the concept of active nonaction, the pupils’ reflections on experiences and feelings reveal meaningful human-nature interactions and aesthetic embodiments in/with nature. MiN is proposed as one ontological-epistemologically holistic, ecocentric, and aesthetic-affective ecopedagogical praxis that can potentially complement (post)critical and posthuman ecopedagogies and contribute to the reconfiguration of outdoor education and physical education for teaching and learning social-ecological, all-inclusive sustainable development.

Boundaries of Self

Ecopsychology provides numerous ways to define the boundary between self and environment, including the idea of an expanded self that incorporate the natural world into one’s self-perception. Within ecopsychology this concept is primarily approached from a neurotypical perspective. It is, however, valuable to consider the experience of Autistic individuals through this lens, particularly in relation to sensory experience. I propose that many Autistics experience a highly permeable self-environment boundary leading to self-identification that includes environment and heightened sensory input. I draw primarily from the ideas of Arne Naess (1995) on expanding spheres of self-identification and Theodore Roszak’s (1995) concept of the ecological unconscious to illustrate this. Additional support is provided by considering the lived experience of Autistic individuals, including the author. Very few published works examine Autistic experience as described by Autistics, which is critical in presenting an accurate perspective. By viewing Autistic sensory experience through the framework of ecopsychology and using the described experiences of Autistic individuals, the resulting conclusions can support more respectful and Autistic-affirming practices and supports.

Intercultural dialogue on ecopedagogy between Daoism and Naess’ ecosophy: Comparing and integrating Chinese and Western ecological wisdom

Dialogues between ecological wisdom across the East and the West contribute to generating unorthodox education, improving cross-cultural ecopedagogical praxis, and reinforcing education for sustainable development (ESD). In this article, Chinese Daoism and Norwegian Naessian ecosophy are compared and integrated to form an intercultural ecopedagogy. Indigenous Daoist wisdom entails profound ecopedagogical implications in learning from nature, human-nature reciprocity, and spontaneous, altruistic, and harmonious modes of action. Moreover, the cosmo-metaphysical notion of qi (氣) implies an alternative ecopedagogy that may empower learners to consolidate psychosomatic learning and embody human-nature oneness. Correspondingly, Arne Naess’ life philosophy promotes ecocentric living and education that underline experiential relations, non-violent symbiosis, and activeness in sensing and feeling. Naess’ postulation on subjective aesthetical identification with nature can be seen as one sensible complement to objective scientific knowledge of the ecosystem, facilitating individuals’ holistic and personally meaningful formation of be(com)ing ecocitizens. The reciprocity of Lao Zhuang’s and Naess’ ecological wisdom is argued to shed new light on theories and practices of ecopedagogy and combat dualism and anthropocentrism cross-culturally and innovatively.

THE ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THE WEST AND ISLAM IN ECOLOGY

This article seeks to discuss the encounter of Arne Naess’s theoretical ecology model and al-Qusyairi's Sufism theory, Ecosufism. To examine their relationship, this article employ Arne Naess's triangulation model of shallow ecology, deep ecology, and complexity, which in Al-Qusyairi’s sufism is referred to as tauḥīd, tazkiyyat an-nafs, and muḥsīn. Thus, this article highlights the sufi figure of akhlāqī (al-Qusyairi) as the subject of philosophical content. This article argues that to lead modern society towards a deeper understanding and practice can be accomplished with spirituality and ecology proceeding together (juxtaposition) in fostering “respectful” behavior toward all creatures. This approach benefits the environment (nature-oriented) and also enriches the individual's spirituality (God-oriented).

Blue Economy from Perspective of Al-Qur'an

This research concludes that from the Al-Qur'an perspective, the maritime concept with a blue economy perspective is an integral approach, where the utilization of marine resources, which are referred to as al-Bahr and al-yam in the Al-Qur'an, needs to integrate several aspects interrelated maritime affairs. Reduction of one maritime aspect can result in ineffectiveness in dealing with the complexity of maritime problems as a whole.The framework used in this research includes the following aspects:First, Aqidah: Humans are seen as caliphs who are responsible for the universe that Allah rules. Second, Sharia: Maritime natural resource utilization activities must be in accordance with the principles of Islamic law. Third, Morals: Improvement with adaptive innovation for the efficiency of natural resources, fair distribution, and consumption that does not damage or waste natural resources.This research supports the views of several figures such as Robert Maltus, Langdon Gilkey, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Donella H. Meadow, Arne Naess, Edith Brown Weiss, and Gunter Pauli, who emphasize the need for wise management of natural resources for sustainability. The research method used is a qualitative method with the Tafsir Maudū'i (thematic) interpretation method.This research differs from the views of several figures, such as Hugo Grotius, Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Immanuel Kant, and Garret Hardin, who have different views regarding natural resource management. Thus, this research proposes a holistic approach based on Islamic values in viewing and managing marine resources to achieve economic and environmental sustainability.

Analysis of Paudyal’s “The Parrot in the Cage” and Sama’s “Don’t Cut down the Trees, Brother Woodcutter” from Ecological Perspectives

This paper analyzes the ecological reading of Paudyal’s “The Parrot in the Cage” and Sama’s “Don’t Cut down the Trees, Brother Woodcutter.” There are several factors of modernization responsible for the destruction of natural phenomena. The deterioration of flora and fauna has not been controlled though several government monitoring agencies have been actively working. There are limited research works on Nepali writers’ works regarding environmental issues. This study explores these two authors’ works to show how the deforestation and destruction of the wild lives take place. The findings of the study show that people are cutting down trees; hunters are hunting birds and animals; and the government is cutting down trees for constructing roads, airports, and city planning. Because of these causes, the ozone layer has been depleted; global warming has increased and people are suffering from skin cataracts; eye cataracts, and respiratory problems. The over-superiority complex of man has helped destroy the flora and fauna. Whatever change takes place in nature is irreversible. The study adopts the deep ecology theory that was propounded by Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess. This essay explains the causes and effects of deforestation. The study also analyses the related consequences of deforestation. This is explanatory research rather than exploratory. The main purpose of this paper is to minimize ecological degradation and environmental problems. The study also attempts to find necessary solutions like afforestation, reforestation, and alternative energy.

Becoming Home: Revisiting Arne Naess toward an Ecophilosophy and a Depth Ecology for the 22nd Century

This article is set in the context of a worsening ecological crisis, which is interpreted as an existential life crisis. The ecocrisis is not just about nature, but also a crisis of culture, community, and self. The prefix “eco” is interpreted in as “home in life”. To solve the crisis, we need a balanced focus on ecophilia and ecojustice. It is not enough to care, to solve the crisis we need to address issues of justice. Naess said he was optimistic on behalf of the 22nd century, but how bad it gets before it gets better depends on what we do today. In the article, I will revisit the life and works of Naess to explore what may inspire a sustainable and eco-friendly future. It will show there is a need to put “philo” back into ecosophy and to go deeper into the depths of deep ecology in a depth ecology movement. It will also address some issues, such as that of eco-animism and a renewed sense of the sacred.

Pari, Pegan and Athigan (The Seven Great Patrons) as Deep Ecologists

This paper attempts to study Pari, Pegan, Athigan, the seven chieftains or patrons as deep ecologists. Pari, Pegan, Athigan were the chieftains who ruled some parts of Tamilnadu in Sangam Age. Mentions of their generosity can be found in all sangam literary texts, the paper studies the work called Sirupanarttupadai, one of the idylls in Ten Idylls (Pathupattu). Ecocriticism is the study of the relationship between literature and ecology. It analyzes literary texts to find out the representation of nature in it. This paper studies the chieftains’ acts of benevolence as Deep Ecologist acts, based on the principle of Deep Ecology by Arne Naess who is one of the major proponents of philosophical Deep Ecology movement. It results in finding the deep ecologist ideas behind those chieftains’ acts of generosity, which have been considered mere acts of kindness rather than an attempt to safeguard nature. The study could bring the light of how the Tamil culture and literature promoted nature conservation, which can be used to educate today’s naturally degenerating world about their mindless acts.

An Analysis of Deep Ecological Perspectives in Chris Wedge’s Epic (2013) and John A Davis’ The Ant Bully (2006)

Deep ecology by Arne Naess is an ecological theory that propagates the need to appreciate the inherent value of all living organisms. The advent of ecological themes in animated films helps propagate eco-consciousness through audiovisual mediums and nature themes. The research aims to analyze the various deep ecological perspectives in the select animated films The Ant Bully (2006) and Epic (2013). The article relies on deep ecology perspectives to analyze and select the plot instances and protagonists' evolution from the select films. The paper analyses how both the protagonists shed their egoistic attitudes and develop empathy towards the existence of smaller beings and ecosystems in our environment. The research compares the various themes of the select films through their association with deep ecology philosophy and perspectives. The results of the research explore how both films reflect a deep ecological appreciation of all living beings equally. The research concludes how the realization of the protagonists motivates them to fight against forces that threaten the existence of these miniature ecosystems.

Environmental rescue by local initiatives in Bangka Belitung

As the greatest tin producer in Indonesia, Bangka Belitung has been associated with environmental degradation problems. The main cause of these problems is tin deregulation, from state monopoly to autonomy in tin management. Moreover, mining activity has degraded the habitat. These problems lead society, individually or in community, to be more aware of protecting ecosystems. The communities is located in Bangka Belitung. On this research, we will focus on analyzing the environmental rescue activity of two primary figures, Mr. Toha and BECAK (Bangka Environment Creative Activist of Kawa), which will be discussed in Deep Ecology by Arne Naess. The findings show that amid the environmental damage caused by massive lead mining, these local initiatives had a significant impact on environmental conservation in Bangka Belitung. Through the cultivation of mangroves and coastal ecosystem preservation, Mr. Toha managed to prevent further damage and create sustainable habitats for various species. The BECAK community also plays an active role in implementing educational activities, waste management, and environmental advocacy, which influence local environmental policies. In the context of Deep Ecology theory, these two local initiatives reflect Arne Naess’s principles, such as recognition of biodiversity, active participation in society, and the relationship between man and nature.

The Ocean, the Undertaker’s Wind, a Wind Called Hawkins, and Other Natural Phenomena: Representations of Nature in Ian Fleming’s Live and Let Die

This article explores representations of natural phenomena in the second novel in the James Bond series, Ian Fleming’s Live and Let Die (London: Penguin, [1954] 2008). Several critics have noted the enjoyment Fleming derived from his Jamaican home, adjacent to the ocean. His relationship with the ocean and nature, particularly birds, is evident in his writing. Although the novel is firmly in the thriller/spy genre, the many references to natural phenomena provide the reader with points of reflection about humanity and the environment. The article demonstrates that although Fleming wrote in the thriller/spy genre, a significant element of his writing has value in the field of ecocriticism. The article draws on critic Greg Garrard, who refers to those who use nature for their own purposes as the Cornucopians. Other critics whose work informs this reading of Fleming’s novel include Arne Naess, a central figure in Deep Ecology, and Rachel Carson, who pioneered our understanding of the human relationship with the oceans. The work of Jacques-Yves Cousteau (whom Fleming knew personally) and Peter Godfrey-Smith is also considered.

TOWARD A NEW RELATIONSHIP: AN ECO CRITICAL STUDY ON PAULA CIZMAR'S CHISERA

Technological and industrial development is a widespread phenomenon that effect on the life of all creatures in our planet. Previous studies have done on development concentrated especially on the benefit of it. It addressed the advantages of technology on teaching, learning and lifestyle.Also it explore policy changes that have affected technology's role and how these changes have influenced the life of people . Man is considered the superior creature on earth so he believed that he has the right to exploit other resources. However no previous studies take this issue in consideration. Thus the present study aims to explore the earth exploitation in times of climate change. Moreover it aims for increasing human conscious towards mother earth. It examines the causes why American play right Paula Cizmar wrote her play Chisera. Arne Naess's Ecosophy T; unity and diversity of life concept is used to explain the human responsibility towards nature. The present study concludes that nature can be exploited and destroyed by man. In addition the present study contributes anew solutions for environmental crisis. More importantly it concludes that technology and industrial expansion have bad effect on nature but by increasing people knowledge and consciousness we can overcome these crisis .

When Arne met J. L.: attitudes to scientific method in empirical semantics, ordinary language philosophy and linguistics

In the autumn of 1959, Arne Naess and J. L. Austin, both pioneers of empirical study in the philosophy of language, discussed their points of agreement and disagreement at a meeting in Oslo. This article considers the fragmentary record that has survived of that meeting, and investigates what light it can shed on the question of why the two philosophers apparently found so little common ground, given their shared commitment to the importance of data in the study of language. Naess and Austin held different views about two significant aspects of the relationship between scientific method and philosophical investigation. The first aspect concerns the nature of experimental data; Naess used the statistical analysis of data collected from non-philosophical informants while Austin advocated deliberation leading to agreement over usage by a few skilled experts. The second aspect relates to their respective attitudes to the role of theory in philosophical inquiry, attitudes which drew on discussions of scientific method, and its relevance to philosophy, from the early decades of the twentieth century. This article traces the evidence for these views on scientific method in Naess’s and Austin’s respective published work, and in the record of their Oslo meeting. It concludes with a brief overview of opinions about scientific method manifest in the decades since that meeting in various branches of linguistics. These opinions speak to the enduring importance of attitudes to scientific method in relation to our study and understanding of human language.

Oil Politics and the Environmental Crisis in Galeano’s Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent

The politics of oil has played a vital role for the massive exploitation of Venezuela’s natural resources such as the petroleum products. When the European colonizers entered into the Latin American countries in the sixteenth century, initially they took hold of the land and the people; later, they pillaged and exploited their natural resources together with the American capitalist cartels. This paper analyzes the petroleum politics that includes the European and American oil cartels that has adversely affected environment in the region. In this paper, I have explored the western capitalists’ petroleum politics in Eduardo Galeano’s book Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent. Mainly I have focused on the case of Venezuela’s Lake Maracaibo, where a continuous spilling of oil has brought a huge damage to different water species; for instance, fishery is on the verge of collapse and the surrounding is severely affected. The craving of capitalist alliances for the petroleum products has ignored the fact that humans have to pay the cost of environmental destruction as a result of the oil politics. The paper sheds light on the environmental crisis, which is caused by continuous extracting and spilling of oil in Lake Maracaibo. Subsequently, the Venezuelan prosperity has got threatened as it totally relies on the ‘oil culture’. To explore the widespread ecological damage on Lake Maracaibo and its surroundings, I have used the deep ecological concept of Arne Naess, which argues that there is the connectedness and dependency of living and non-living things with each other so that any disturbance can hamper the whole ecosystem. Besides Naess’s ecological concept, I have also drawn ideas from the insights of ecocritics Cheryll Glotfelty and Val Plum wood to support Naess’s ecological concept and to clarify the conceptual framework of this paper.

Kelembagaan Gerakan Forum Komunitas Hijau Terhadap Kebijakan Ruang Terbuka Hijau di Kota Depok

This study aims to see how active efforts are made by the Depok City FKH to help strengthen the green open space procurement policy in Depok City. The type of research method used is qualitative with a case study approach. Then the theory used in this research is Deep Ecology which was coined by Arne Naess. The results of the study explain that the Depok City FKH strengthens and assists the Depok City Government regarding the provision of green open space through 3 ways, namely: First, strengthening of the ecological perspective embodied in each activity implementation with the concept of "one with nature" and the principle of "live and let live". Second, through the application of the concept of ecopolitics by seeing the need to change the perspective of development from sustainable development to "ecological sustainability". Third, the lifestyle that is promoted is the ability to be an example community for the government by working independently in assisting the provision of green open space, one of which is through a pilot project that is carried out and strengthening the view of "Simple in means but rich in ends". This study concludes that if there are weaknesses in the collaboration that occurs between the government and the community, especially the community, both in terms of socialization, as well as the implementation of program activities related to the procurement of green open space in Depok City, it is important for this collaboration to be maximized in the hope of realizing optimal green open space in Depok City. according to its function.

"Yaralı Bir Dünyada" Hayatta Kalmak: David Greig'in Outling Island Oyununda Çevresel Etik

David Greig, one of the pioneering playwrights of the contemporary Scottish theater, deals with such issues as Scottish identity, globalization, war, and the environment in his plays. His play Outlying Islands mobilizes these issues together to question the ethics of the human-nature relationship. It demonstrates humanity’s adverse impact on nature through a military anthrax test to be conducted on an island before the WWII. The aim of this paper is to display the stances of the characters in terms of environmental ethics by using Aldo Leopold’s ‘land ethic’ and Arne Naess’ deep ecological thought as a theoretical framework. Their notions provide a convenient perspective for the exegesis of the play, for they deny the image of humanity as independent of nature. Within this framework, this paper discusses whether the characters adopt an intrinsic value system for the nonhuman beings, and the role of science and religion in the formation of their value systems is demonstrated.

Fellow Creatures in War with Humans: Status Quo Struggle in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds

This article examines the intricate matrix of human and non-human relations to explore the symbolic essence of war of birds with the humanity in Alfred Hitchcock’s movie ‘The Birds’. This movie contains a plot in which nature strikes back to humanity. The everyday life is terrorized by the flocks of birds that attack people forcing them to think of their hostile relationship with other creatures. The study concentrates on exploring the reasons of havoc caused by the mute creatures, specially the birds that behave strangely. It analyses the film from an ecocritical insight envisioned by the theorists Arne Naess, Vandana Shiva, and Lawrence Buell. As it is a thematic interpretation of the movie, it reviews the scholarly comments of different critics and sets to explore the avian status quo struggle departing from the criticisms. Its finding suggests that anthropocentric hubris is the reason behind the dystopic state of the planet and the animals and birds are ultimately struggling for their own position on earth. It challenges the human claim that they are the most powerful creatures of this universe to keep everything under their control.

The Battle Rages On

The Battle Rages On

Afroz Shah's Ecosophy on Youtube.Com: An Ecolinguistics Perspective

Language cannot be separated from the environment where we live by, because they have relationship with one another. When discussing how to protect the environment, it has to do with human wisdom or self-realization, which is influenced by Gandhi’s teachings on self-realization and nonviolence, as well as the Mahayana Buddhist distinction between the small ego-self and the expansive Self of Buddha. This research was aimed to decribe Afroz Shah’s utterances that contains ecosophy on Youtube.com. The primary source of data in this research was taken from youtube video, while the secondary data was from books and journals to support to this research. It used a qualitative descriptive method in conjunction with Arne Naess’ ecosophy theory. The data was gathered by downloading an Afroz Shah video from Youtube.com, watching it, reading and checking the video script, taking notes and underlining the data, re-watching and re-checking the data, and capturing, coding, and reducing the data. The data were presented, described, interpreted, and concluded using data analysis techniques. Based on the findings and discussion, the researcher came to the conclusion that Afroz Shah’s ecosophy can be divided into four categories: norms, rules, postulates, and value priority announcements.
 Keywords: ecolinguistics, ecosophy, self realization