ABSTRACT
Although Geddes was a considerable influence on both modernday environmental philosophy and the environmental movement, his name has long since been forgotten. Geddes was a great reformer who hardly allowed himself any rest or time to commit his ideas to paper. He set up project after project and was constantly on the lookout for disciples to carry them out and report on them. ‘I am like the cuckoo bird that lays her eggs in other birds’ nests. The main thing is that the egg should develop-not that the cuckoo’s ego should be gratified’ (in Miller, 1989, p. 52). The bestknown cuckoo chick is undoubtedly Lewis Mumford, who repeatedly referred to Geddes as his ‘master’ and even named his only son after him (Geddes Mumford). It is mainly via the work of Lewis Mumford that Geddes’ views have found a wide audience. Mumford is the vital link between this pioneer of social ecology and Murray Bookchin, whose ideas will be studied in greater detail in Part II.
