The Ecologist Vol.18, Nos. 4/5,1988

Edward Goldsmith

Grover Foley

Henry k Skolimowski

Arne Naess

Brian Tokar

Robyn Eckersley

Richard Sylvan & David Bennett

Edward Goldsmith

The Ecologist, Vol.18, Nos 4/5, 1988

Editorial The Need for an Ecological World-view.

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Special'Deep Ecology' Issue Deep Ecology and Subjectivity........ .

Deep Ecology stands charged with being befuddled by mysticism and with ignoring such vital issues as the threat of nuclear war. Above all, argues the author, it has no clear philosophy of human nature—and can thus offer no firm moral guidelines for future living.

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Eco-philosophy and Deep Ecology Deep Ecology's exhortation to live in harmony with nature is highly commendable, but without a theory of 'ultimate ends', it lacks secure philosophical foundations. Deep Ecology and Ultimate Premises 128 Arne Naess, the father of the Deep Ecology movement, responds to the criticisms of Grover and Skolimowski, and puts forward eight principles for a 'Platform of Deep Ecology'. Social Ecology, Deep Ecology and the Future of Green Political Thought Many of the premises of Deep Ecology have been challenged by the supporters of Murray Bookchin's philosophy of 'Social Ecology'. In the United States, the debate has become increasingly acrimonious, and is hampering the emergence of a coherent ecological world-view. It is time for the polemics to stop.

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The Road to Ecotopia? Socialism Vs. Environmentalism Socialists and Greens frequently find themselves on opposite sides of an ideological divide. Which of the two offers the most promising path to a just and sustainable society that respects both cultural and biological diversity? Are their goals compatible or irreconcilable?

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Taoism and Deep Ecology Deep Ecology could profit from an examination of the tenets of the ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism. In particular, the Taoist emphasis on voluntary simplicity and on following the Way offers a path between insufficiency and

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excess. The Way: An Ecological Worldview 160 Only a clearly formulated world-view is likely to give rise to a comprehensive strategy for assuring the preservation of what remains of the biosphere — and hence the survival of the human species. Edward Goldsmith puts forward 67 principles which are fundamental to such a world-view

Books Letters Cover: William Blake (Tate Gallery). Cover Lay-Out:/o/w Mclntyre. Lay-out: Macintosh Plus, courtesy of Apple.

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