ABSTRACT
Having spent a lot of time focusing on nature and its intrinsic value, the book in Chapter 11 takes a different path by considering how the sense of wonder is central to humanity becoming whole. First it considers the oft-quoted idea that humans are ‘rational’ and act in their own self-interest, and concludes that society as a whole does neither. The chapter discusses why we need the sense of wonder at nature to provide the moral strength that allows us to take the difficult actions we should be taking in our own self-interest. It then discusses ‘green virtue ethics’ and how acting to protect nature makes us ‘better people’. The chapter then examines the spiritual dimension of why a sense of wonder helps humanity to belong and become whole. It then considers the question of where ‘mind’ is located, and how if people listen to nature, they can learn the wisdom we need. The chapter concludes by arguing that anthropocentrism is an impractical ‘dead end’, while ecocentrism offers humanity a sustainable way forward. A key part of that is our sense of wonder and its transformative power on the human psyche.
