ABSTRACT

Originally published in 1984, The Roots of Modern Environmentalism provides a historical, philosophical and ideological background to environmentalism. Topics covered include, the roots of technological environmentalism, the medieval cosmology and Bacon’s philosophy, the non-scientific roots of ecological environmentalism, such as Romanticism and its scientific roots in the theories of Malthus and Darwin. The Marxist perspective on Nature is also discussed. The concluding chapter is a criticism of education which challenges its usefulness as an agent of socio-economic change. This book will be of interest to academics and students of environmentalism and geography.

chapter Chapter 1|24 pages

Modern Environmentalism

chapter Chapter 2|31 pages

The Roots of Technological Environmentalism

(This chapter is based substantially on material supplied and interpreted by John Perkins)

chapter Chapter 4|25 pages

The Scientific Roots of Ecological Environmentalism

chapter Chapter 5|31 pages

Science and Objectivity

chapter Chapter 6|40 pages

The Marxist Perspective on Nature and Environmentalism

chapter Chapter 7|28 pages

The Political Roots of Ecological Environmentalism

chapter Chapter 8|11 pages

Conclusion: Is Education The ‘Greatest Resource’?