Thoreau’s World From The Perspective Of Deep Ecology

Henry David Thoreau is one of the greatest litterateurs and thinkers in the history of America,and a pioneer in American ecological literature.Though largely obscure during his lifetime,with the rise of environmental movement in the second half of the 20th century,he was rediscovered for his ideas on nature embodied in both his life and works,and became an exponent of non-anthropocentric environmental ethics.He foreshadowed and partly inspired the deep ecology movement arising more than a century later.This thesis is a deep ecological reading of both Thoreau the man and his works on the basis of previous studies,from which we can draw some valuable inspirations for dealing with the more and more serious environmental and spiritual problems we have been confronted with.The works to be discussed in this thesis include A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers,Walden:or Life in the Woods,and The Maine Woods,and some others will also be touched upon to illustrate the point.Deep ecology was first proposed by the Norwegian ecological philosopher Arne Naess.Deep ecology contends that the numerous problems we are facing are due to a fractured,narrow,dualistic worldview.Thus in order to heal ourselves and heal our planet we need to replace this worldview with a more holistic,relational and integrated one,i.e.a shift from anthropocentrism to eco-centrism.Under the long-standing and dominant influence of the Judeo-Christian religion,traditional humanist view traced back to ancient Greek and Descartes’ dualism,the mainstream western culture is fundamentally anthropocentric.Against such background,the nature view embodied in Thoreau’s life practice and works is revolutionary.He was the prototype of deep ecologist in America before we had the term“ecology”.Thoreau’s deep love for nature is partly inherited from his family and shaped by hometown;in developing his nature view he also drew inspiration from transcendentalism,especially Emerson,the oriental literature and philosophy,as well as the American Indian culture.Thoreau’s life as well as his writings fit with the principles of deep ecology very well,especially eco-centrism and Self-realization.This thesis holds that eco-centrism finds exuberant expressions in Thoreau’s life and works,in his respect,love and sympathy towards other living beings rather than the anthropocentric indifference and ruthless use of them,his total view perception which stresses the organic interrelatedness of all,and his advocating for the protection of the wilderness for its intrinsic value.This affirmation of the intrinsic value of nature,respect to the rights of ecological Self-realization of other living beings and communal love of life can lead one to a larger existence which transcends the narrow ego.To experience God through nature is Thoreau’s lifelong quest for Self-realization.Self-realization within the frame of deep ecology is inseparable from the eco-centric worldview,which is the foundation of Self-realization.The concept of Self-realization in deep ecology is connected with eco-self,i.e.,what one psychologically identifies with.The process of Self-realization is the process of widening and deepening this identification,until one achieves total union with nature.For Thoreau,this process is both an internal exploration into the recesses of inner being and an external observation and communion with nature,and the two help each other move forward.The deep ecological thought contained in Thoreau’s works and demonstrated in his way of living may help us.to understand how we can live in harmony with both nature and with ourselves.In the time of 21st century in which ecological equilibrium is suffering further destruction,Thoreau’s works and ideas are of greater practical significance.