The study analyzes Lucy Kirkwood’s play The Children by using the deep ecology principles that criticize anthropocentric viewpoints and show how they resulted in environmental despair and feelings of alienation while simultaneously promoting a close bond between humans and nonhuman animals. The play, which takes place in a post-nuclear disaster, highlights how man-made actions affect the environment and the characters incapacity to recognize and interact with it. Additionally, it looks into the characters responsibility to the next generation. This study highlights how the children successfully uncover an absence of profound ecological concepts fostering the of the integration of human life with nature through an examining the behavior of characters and the underlying themes. The aim of this research is to theatrically enhance awareness of the current environmental issues by questioning human supremacy worldview and its effects on both individuals and the natural environment while also encouraging people to get back in touch with and interact with nature.

This study discusses the paradigm of deep ecology in environmental philosophy and its implications for sustainable development in Indonesia. The main problems faced by Indonesia are massive exploitation of natural resources, deforestation, pollution, and loss of biodiversity, which are triggered by an anthropocentric development model that focuses on economic growth. The objective of this study is to analyze how the principles of Deep Ecology can offer a more holistic and non-anthropocentric ethical framework to address the environmental crisis in Indonesia. The method used is a narrative literature review, analyzing various sources to explore the concept of deep ecology and its relevance in the Indonesian context. The main findings show that the application of deep ecology principles can encourage a paradigm shift in Indonesia's development policies, from exploitation to harmonious coexistence with nature. The implications of this research include the integration of ecocentric values in development planning and increased environmental awareness in society.

This paper explores the concept of self-realization, the basic norm of deep ecology, and argues that it can be understood as an epistemic virtue. In the tradition of the deep ecology movement, self-realization has been portrayed as a lifelong process through which one can expand one's identity and realize a deep connection with all human and non-human entities of nature. However, the moral status of self-realization remains controversial. Existing literature on deep ecology has largely focused on whether self-realization is morally neutral or inherently moral. However, it overlooks the epistemic dimension of self-realization. In order to address this gap, this paper draws insights from virtue epistemology. Using such insights, it conducts a conceptual and critical analysis of the existing literature to determine whether the norm of self-realization can be considered as a character-based epistemic virtue. Through this analysis, this paper argues that self-realization qualifies as an epistemic virtue. In addition, this paper demonstrates that the virtue of self-realization promotes the cultivation of other epistemic virtues and the eradication of ecological ignorance. IUBAT Review—A Multidisciplinary Academic Journal, 8(2): 205-216

Abstract Context The ecological implications of multiscale spatial heterogeneity remain poorly resolved in many parts of the ocean, especially at abyssal (3000–6000 m) and hadal (> 6000 m) depths. Seascape ecology offers a framework to link spatial patterns with ecological processes but remains an emerging approach for biodiversity research in the deep sea. Objectives We aim to promote wider recognition of seascape ecology as a unifying framework for understanding biodiversity, spatial patterns, and processes across scales in the deep ocean. Specifically, we aim to identify strategic priorities to advance seascape ecology in abyssal and hadal environments and to transform the framework from concept to practice. Methods We adapt foundational concepts of seascape ecology—Composition, Configuration, Connectivity, and Context —to deep-sea ecosystems across multiple scales. For each, we assess current knowledge, highlight key research gaps, and propose practical avenues for future application. Results & Conclusions Research gaps and priorities are outlined for each concept, as well as an operational workflow. Cross-cutting needs include multi-scale sampling and analysis, integration of abiotic and biotic data, incorporation of traits and phylogeny, improved temporal coverage, and greater technological and methodological standardisation.

Samantha Harvey’s 2024 Booker Prize-winning novel Orbital serves as a profound ecocentric manifesto cultivating planetary consciousness in the Anthropocene. Set over sixteen orbits on the International Space Station, six multinational astronauts observe Earth’s revolutions from low orbit. This paper posits Harvey’s “space pastoral” as employing the orbital gaze to dismantle anthropocentric boundaries and affirm Earth’s intrinsic value as a biotic community. Rooted in Aldo Leopold’s land ethic and Arne Naess’s deep ecology, the analysis shows how the novel’s cyclical structure mirrors ecological rhythms, challenging linear temporality. Close readings of typhoons, auroras, and evaporating seas critique human degradation while fusing personal grief with planetary loss. The ecocentric sublime blends awe and sorrow, converting impotence into ethical demand for kinship. Using qualitative ecocritical methods—including close reading and intertextual analysis—the study explores interconnectedness, microgravity frailty, and manifesto implications for policy and education. Orbital calls for a shift from conquest to stewardship. This research advances spatial ecocriticism, highlighting the novel’s pivotal role in Anthropocene literature and providing a blueprint for transformative, regenerative narratives.

This paper explores ecological consciousness in John Steinbeck’s Tortilla Flat through the lens of ecocriticism. Although the novel has often been interpreted as a light-hearted and comic tale of paisanos living in post-war Monterey, this study argues that beneath its humor lies a profound ecological vision. Steinbeck portrays characters whose lives are closely tied to the land, the sea, and other living beings, thereby suggesting that human existence cannot be separated from the natural world. Drawing on the theoretical perspectives of Aldo Leopold, Paul Taylor, and other ecocritics, the research emphasizes three key aspects: the holistic interconnectedness between humans and nature, the significance of simple and sustainable lifestyles, and the reverence for the natural environment. The communal life of the paisanos characterized by sharing, closeness to the land, and respect for nonhuman beings illustrates principles of deep ecology and biocentrism. At the same time, their rejection of materialism and pursuit of contentment through community and nature subtly challenges the anthropocentric values that dominate modern industrial societies. Methodologically, the study is based on close textual analysis of Steinbeck’s novel, supported by critical readings in ecocriticism. The findings suggest that Tortilla Flat anticipates many concerns of contemporary ecological thought, offering valuable insights into how literature can shape ethical attitudes toward sustainability, environmental harmony, and ecological justice.

Deep Ecology and Climate Migration: A Study of Amitav Ghosh’s The Hungry Tide and Gun Island

In the article were analyzed key approaches to understanding the environment using the example of establishing the relationship between the task of mitigating negative consequences and human activity during armed conflicts – namely, through the example of the Vietnam War and the use of chemical weapons during one of its operations, which gave impetus to the development of environmental jurisprudence. Such approaches can be traced from philosophical ones – such as environmental ethics, environmental justice, deep and social ecology, the animal rights movement, and ecofeminism – to legal ones, specifically the approaches through human rights, rights of nature, and rights of future generations. In this context, a distinction was made between anthropocentric and ecocentric lenses for analyzing environmental harm, where preference is given either to understanding it through harm to people and the impact on human groups, or attention is focused on the consequences for the environment per se. Furthermore, the author explored the vision of ecocide as a form of genocide in foreign doctrine, using the example of the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Australia, Kenya, and the Americas. A conclusion was drawn regarding the further prospects and challenges of such regulation, particularly its inadequacy and focus on harm to a human group. However, it was noted that such an approach may become relevant for Ukraine as well, using the example of an indigenous people like the Crimean Tatars, and therefore may require further development. Next, the article analyzed the groups of approaches to the criminalization of ecocide proposed by foreign doctrine – namely, the Incremental school, the Relational Ontology school, the Social Utility school, and the Ecocentric Priority school. Using these as examples, the divergence between anthropocentric and ecocentric approaches in doctrine was shown. The potential elements of the international crime – in particular, the level of intent (the subjective element) – depend on the approaches proposed by these schools. Attention was also drawn to the challenges in choosing the ecocentric direction – namely, their application to the already ordered system of international criminal law, including concerning new categories of victims.

In the article were analyzed key approaches to understanding the environment using the example of establishing the relationship between the task of mitigating negative consequences and human activity during armed conflicts – namely, through the example of the Vietnam War and the use of chemical weapons during one of its operations, which gave impetus to the development of environmental jurisprudence. Such approaches can be traced from philosophical ones – such as environmental ethics, environmental justice, deep and social ecology, the animal rights movement, and ecofeminism – to legal ones, specifically the approaches through human rights, rights of nature, and rights of future generations. In this context, a distinction was made between anthropocentric and ecocentric lenses for analyzing environmental harm, where preference is given either to understanding it through harm to people and the impact on human groups, or attention is focused on the consequences for the environment per se. Furthermore, the author explored the vision of ecocide as a form of genocide in foreign doctrine, using the example of the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Australia, Kenya, and the Americas. A conclusion was drawn regarding the further prospects and challenges of such regulation, particularly its inadequacy and focus on harm to a human group. However, it was noted that such an approach may become relevant for Ukraine as well, using the example of an indigenous people like the Crimean Tatars, and therefore may require further development. Next, the article analyzed the groups of approaches to the criminalization of ecocide proposed by foreign doctrine – namely, the Incremental school, the Relational Ontology school, the Social Utility school, and the Ecocentric Priority school. Using these as examples, the divergence between anthropocentric and ecocentric approaches in doctrine was shown. The potential elements of the international crime – in particular, the level of intent (the subjective element) – depend on the approaches proposed by these schools. Attention was also drawn to the challenges in choosing the ecocentric direction – namely, their application to the already ordered system of international criminal law, including concerning new categories of victims.

The River Ganga occupies a unique position in Indian cultural, spiritual, and ecological consciousness. Revered as a divine mother and a source of spiritual liberation, the Ganga simultaneously stands today as one of the most polluted rivers in the world. This paper offers an ecocritical reading of Raja Rao’s On the Ganga Ghat to examine how the river functions as a sacred, living presence within Hindu cosmology while also revealing the contradictions inherent in contemporary attitudes toward nature. Drawing upon the theoretical frameworks of deep ecology and eco-spiritualism, particularly the ideas of Arne Naess and Thomas Berry, the paper explores the tension between reverence and exploitation, faith and environmental neglect. Through Rao’s spiritually charged narratives set in Benares, the study highlights the urgent need to reclaim an ecological ethics grounded in spiritual awareness.

Abstract This article explores Tony Hillerman’s detective novel Listening Woman (1978) through the critical lens of postcolonial ecocriticism. It aims to challenge both anthropocentrism and scholarly dismissals of popular genre fiction. Drawing on some key concepts such as ecocentrism, symbiosis, and deep ecology, this article demonstrates that Listening Woman subverts the dominant anthropocentric view of nature as a resource to be exploited. Instead, Hillerman’s novel presents an ecocentric environmental ethic that underscores the sentient aspect of the natural environment of the American Southwest, its dynamism, and its intimate connection with human life. Therefore, it can be said that Hillerman’s Listening Woman disrupts the mythic image of the American West as a frontier of conquest and resource extraction, and illuminates the Navajo worldview based on interdependence and the importance of venerating the natural environment. By foregrounding these themes within the framework of detective writing, Hillerman not only widens the genre’s thematic scope but also urges readers to rethink their relationship with the environment. Thus, this article testifies to the fact that popular genre fiction is far from being a means of entertainment only, since it can serve as a powerful cultural medium to raise ecological awareness.

The exploitation of the Earth’s precious resources has accelerated to a level that is causing irreversible environmental damage, including natural disasters and health hazards. However, most of the natural calamities we face today result from man’s anthropocentric attitude. The modern world lacks sufficient ethical values to preserve the environment. As a result, humanity faces a severe environmental crisis in which the survival of all living beings is at risk. It has therefore become essential to restore lost human values so that people can live harmoniously on Earth, protecting its natural balance and refraining from harming the environment for personal gain. Recognizing that a healthy living environment depends on valuing and respecting nature for its own sake is crucial. This paper examines how Richard Powers’ Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Overstory, reinterprets Deep Ecology to promote a healthy ecosystem and sustainability by addressing the challenges we face today. The study establishes an ethical framework for understanding the interdependence of human and non-human life by connecting individual stories with those of trees.

This study explores the philosophical and ethical foundations underpinning the recognition of nature’s rights, advancing a defense for the moral and legal personhood of the natural world. Drawing from ecocentrism, deep ecology, Earth jurisprudence, and Indigenous worldviews, the research argues that traditional anthropocentric ethics have failed to address the environmental crises of the modern era. Through a qualitative philosophical analysis of key thinkers such as Aldo Leopold, Arne Næss, and Christopher Stone, as well as case studies from Ecuador, Bolivia, and New Zealand, this paper demonstrates a paradigm shift toward a relational and ecological understanding of justice. The findings reveal that granting rights to nature is not only a legal innovation but a moral evolution that redefines humanity’s role within the community of life. Recognizing the intrinsic value of ecosystems fosters ecological stewardship, intergenerational justice, and the preservation of planetary integrity. Ultimately, this study calls for a synthesis of ethical reflection, legal reform, and cultural transformation toward a more harmonious coexistence between humanity and the Earth.

The Awiq-Awiq in Controlling Deforestation for Environmental Sustainability: A Deep Ecology Perspective on Forest Management of the Bayan Indigenous People

Objective: To evaluate reciprocal relationships that native women sustain with the Malinche mountain located in Puebla, Mexico, based on multiple values or contributions from nature and territory. Theoretical framework: The approach of Radical Ecological Economic is used to understand society-nature-economic relationships, complemented with relational ontologies or way of being/existing of native societies based on multiple relationships with nature-territory, using decolonial feminist theory. Method: We performed collaborative research based on a doble ethnography approach, since peasant native women participated as community researchers. The information was gathered by semi-structured and unstructured interviews, and participatory workshops. We analyzed and synthetized the information through the Social Metabolism method. Research implications: Peasant women sustain reciprocal connections with the Malinche through milpa, an agroecological Mesoamerican system related to forest management, contributing to well-being of peasant women and communities with values of knowledge, work, vocation, nourishment, health, culture, history, spirituality, unity, and ecology. Originality and value: This is an empirical case study, expanding values of nature and territory though Social Metabolism method, based on community-ecologic-economic relationships using Radical Ecological Economics approach and relational ontologies based on decolonial feminisms.

Equality has long been a central concern in social and ecological discourse, particularly in nations such as the Philippines where cultural diversity and environmental degradation coexist. This study applies Arne Naess’ theory of Deep Ecology—which holds that all living and non-living entities possess intrinsic value—to the Philippine context, highlighting its potential to transform the nation’s understanding of equality. The research emphasizes that recognizing the interconnectedness of humanity and nature is vital for addressing both social inequality and ecological crisis. The study adopts a qualitative-philosophical approach to examine Naess’ concept of ecological egalitarianism, correlating it with Philippine cultural thought, indigenous belief systems, and environmental realities. Results reveal that embracing an inclusive ecological perspective promotes both social harmony and environmental stewardship. Consequently, the research calls for an integral form of equality encompassing human and non-human communities, aligning with indigenous worldviews and contemporary calls for sustainable development.

Purpose This study aims to investigate the prevalence of reporting on biodiversity actions within the annual reports, corporate social responsibility reports and sustainability reports of UK higher education institutes (HEIs). In addition, the research seeks to examine potential associations between biodiversity and its determinant factors including governance mechanisms-frequency of board meeting, board diversity and Vice Chancellor tenure (VCT) assurance provided by big 4 and environmental awards received by HEIs to support progress towards achieving specific sustainable development goals (SDGs). Design/methodology/approach The authors devised a biodiversity index to measure the extent of reporting on biodiversity actions across four years (2019–2022) encompassing 130 UK HEIs, totalling 520 university-year observations. Using a triangulation approach grounded in three distinct theoretical frameworks – deep ecology, stakeholder and signalling, this study posits that governance mechanisms, assurance practices and environmental awards within UK HEIs influence the extent of reporting on biodiversity actions. Findings This research reveals a notably low level of biodiversity disclosure among UK HEIs. Variability exists across HEIs, with those established before 1992 exhibiting significantly higher biodiversity reporting score compared to their newer counterparts. The study also establishes that governing board mechanisms, specifically VCT and environmental awards received by HEIs exert a significant impact on biodiversity. Conversely, the authors found frequency of board meetings, board diversity positively (insignificant) linked to biodiversity reporting. Assurance and audited by big4 found to have negative (insignificant) relationship with biodiversity. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to UK HEIs, highlighting the need for future research to explore a broader, international sample to enable cross-country comparisons and enhance the generalisability of the findings. More determinants variables can be measured in future research. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical study to investigate reporting on biodiversity actions in 130 UK HEIs over four years. It also links biodiversity reporting to its determinant factors including governance mechanisms (frequency of board meeting, board diversity and VCT), assurance provided by big 4 and environmental awards received by HEIs to support progress towards achieving specific SDGs. The study develops a unique (26-item) biodiversity index encompassing reporting on biodiversity actions. This approach presents novel insights into the governance and accountability practices concerning biodiversity disclosures in the higher education sector. Its originality lies in its focus on biodiversity, which significantly contributes to academic discourse and practical application in sustainability governance within HEIs.

ABSTRACT Responses to the environmental crisis from traditional moral and political philosophy perspectives generally suffer from two shortcomings: anthropocentrism and presentism. A deep ecology perspective that decenters the rational subjects is inconceivable from the Kantian ethical premise. However, I argue that holding on to anthropocentrism may yet offer better prospects to overcome presentism. By emphasizing the gulf between contractarian politics and his deontological ethics in Kant, I will argue that presentism cannot be resolved politically because an interest-based, contractarian community with future generations is inconceivable. Kantian ethics offers a vantage point outside of such temporal constrictions to consider the ecological crisis.

While Gandhi is portrayed as an inspiration for proponents of ecocentrism, specifically Deep Ecologists like Arne Naess, Ramachandra Guha suggests that Gandhi was more concerned with anthropocentrism. Rather than ascertaining whether Gandhi was a Deep Ecologist, this paper aims to determine the implications of his philosophical anthropology for the Anthropocene. Dwelling on Gandhi’s comprehension of the other, including non-human nature, we situate Gandhian environmentalism between ecocentrism and anthropocentrism as a weak form of anthropocentrism that can be interpreted as ‘stewardship’ with the potential for an ethic of care. The Gandhian ideals of Swadeshi, Swaraj, and Sarvodaya are invoked to discuss the significance and alignment of Gandhi’s philosophy of environment to contemporary ideals of ecologically and socially sustainable societies.

This study examines Linda Hogan’s People of the Whale (2008) through Arne Naess’s deep ecological philosophy, focusing on its critique of anthropocentrism and advocacy for biocentric egalitarianism. The novel explores the fictional Aatsika people’s profound relationship with the ocean and its creatures, offering a counter-narrative to exploitative environmental practices. By contrasting late capitalist ideologies with a deep ecological worldview, Hogan emphasizes all life forms' interconnectedness and intrinsic value while underscoring the consequences of humanity’s disconnection from nature. Through the journeys of its central characters, the narrative advocates for Self-realization, relational ethics, and ecological harmony, reflecting the core principles of deep ecology. This analysis positions the novel as a significant contribution to ecocritical literature, highlighting its relevance in addressing contemporary environmental crises. By challenging anthropocentric paradigms, Hogan’s work offers a transformative vision for ethical human-nature relationships, providing insights into the urgent need for sustainable and holistic approaches to ecological and cultural renewal.