The Three Great Movements of Naess

According to Naess there were three great movements for global responsibility that occurred during the twentieth century. These great movements were social justice, environmental movements and peace (“The Three Great Movements”, Naess 2008). These different views became of interest of a great variety of people that held unique religions, nationalities, worldviews and cultures. The three great movements are all connected to one another in one form or another. For example, war and violence are not compatible with environmental responsibility, and destruction and degradation put on the environment do not coincide with social justice. Equality and liberty cannot be justified when there is violence and war and require respect and relationships that are civil through acts of peace. These three movements all require one central principle, social responsibility. During these movements the first to be initiated and recognized was the environmental movement. At first there was shallow and anthropocentric environmentalism, however environmental movements were supported and strengthened through peace movements and social justice (Naess 2008). Growth in the economy and increased consumption of natural resources are still the greatest value in our society and they are put first and before our environment.

I think that the most promising and auspicious form of environmentalism that we have studied and discussed in our philosophy course thus far is the radical deep ecology movement. Deep ecology includes valuing an ecocentric ethic and individual ethic, not just one or the other.

It is often thought that Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring (1962) as the start of the deep ecology movement. In the book Silent Spring she demonstrated how people re...

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...that these efforts will not interfere with their current economic struggles and the efforts made to solve these problems.

The types of practices I could adopt to promote the spread of deep ecology would be to first communicate the idea to the people I live and work with. I can contribute to the quality of life through all levels at the same time, because once someone shifts to a quality of life, rather than thinking of sheer quantities “bigger and better”, several doors are opened. If personal identification and its worth to individual beliefs, values and culture can be demolished, appreciation of others and respect of all living beings can be achieved. It can start with a single individual and branch out to create responsible communities through communication and united efforts. Strike one match in the dark and all the world starts to change.

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