Material Information |
Title: |
The Wilderness Ethic and the Social Construction of Nature |
Physical Description: |
Book |
Language: |
English |
Creator: |
Neiburger, Uphar |
Publisher: |
New College of Florida |
Place of Publication: |
Sarasota, Fla. |
Creation Date: |
2005 |
Publication Date: |
2005 |
Subjects |
Subjects / Keywords: |
Environmentalism Social Constructionism Ethics |
Genre: |
bibliography ( marcgt ) theses ( marcgt ) government publication (state, provincial, terriorial, dependent) ( marcgt ) born-digital ( sobekcm ) Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Notes |
Abstract: |
Certain environmental historians have begun to describe ways in which concepts of nature, as wilderness, can be counter-productive to environmentalism. In ways the concept of nature as wilderness, as pristine only if untouched by human hands, may rest upon problematic human/nonhuman dualisms. The central paradox is that wilderness as such embodies a dualistic vision in which the human is entirely outside of the natural, and wilderness becomes the standard against which to measure human culture (Cronon 1996: 80). Wilderness comes to represent the natural, un-fallen antithesis of an unnatural civilization that has lost its soul. Yet, if we believe that nature, to be natural, must be pristine and untouched by humanity, then our presence in nature represents its fall. If wilderness is set forth as the standard by which we judge civilization, we accept a dualism setting humanity and nature as antipodes. This leaves little hope of discovering what a sustainable, valid human place in nature might be. In this thesis I attempt to show that this ideal nature, or wilderness, is very much a human construction, i.e. a social construction, and in essence a counter productive, self-contradiction. I also attempt to offer possible solutions towards a more pragmatic environmentalism. |
Statement of Responsibility: |
by Uphar Neiburger |
Thesis: |
Thesis (B.A.) -- New College of Florida, 2005 |
Electronic Access: |
RESTRICTED TO NCF STUDENTS, STAFF, FACULTY, AND ON-CAMPUS USE |
Bibliography: |
Includes bibliographical references. |
Source of Description: |
This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law. |
Local: |
Faculty Sponsor: Brain, David |
Record Information |
Source Institution: |
New College of Florida |
Holding Location: |
New College of Florida |
Rights Management: |
Applicable rights reserved. |
Classification: |
local - S.T. 2005 N39 |
System ID: |
NCFE003548:00001 |
|
Material Information |
Title: |
The Wilderness Ethic and the Social Construction of Nature |
Physical Description: |
Book |
Language: |
English |
Creator: |
Neiburger, Uphar |
Publisher: |
New College of Florida |
Place of Publication: |
Sarasota, Fla. |
Creation Date: |
2005 |
Publication Date: |
2005 |
Subjects |
Subjects / Keywords: |
Environmentalism Social Constructionism Ethics |
Genre: |
bibliography ( marcgt ) theses ( marcgt ) government publication (state, provincial, terriorial, dependent) ( marcgt ) born-digital ( sobekcm ) Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Notes |
Abstract: |
Certain environmental historians have begun to describe ways in which concepts of nature, as wilderness, can be counter-productive to environmentalism. In ways the concept of nature as wilderness, as pristine only if untouched by human hands, may rest upon problematic human/nonhuman dualisms. The central paradox is that wilderness as such embodies a dualistic vision in which the human is entirely outside of the natural, and wilderness becomes the standard against which to measure human culture (Cronon 1996: 80). Wilderness comes to represent the natural, un-fallen antithesis of an unnatural civilization that has lost its soul. Yet, if we believe that nature, to be natural, must be pristine and untouched by humanity, then our presence in nature represents its fall. If wilderness is set forth as the standard by which we judge civilization, we accept a dualism setting humanity and nature as antipodes. This leaves little hope of discovering what a sustainable, valid human place in nature might be. In this thesis I attempt to show that this ideal nature, or wilderness, is very much a human construction, i.e. a social construction, and in essence a counter productive, self-contradiction. I also attempt to offer possible solutions towards a more pragmatic environmentalism. |
Statement of Responsibility: |
by Uphar Neiburger |
Thesis: |
Thesis (B.A.) -- New College of Florida, 2005 |
Electronic Access: |
RESTRICTED TO NCF STUDENTS, STAFF, FACULTY, AND ON-CAMPUS USE |
Bibliography: |
Includes bibliographical references. |
Source of Description: |
This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law. |
Local: |
Faculty Sponsor: Brain, David |
Record Information |
Source Institution: |
New College of Florida |
Holding Location: |
New College of Florida |
Rights Management: |
Applicable rights reserved. |
Classification: |
local - S.T. 2005 N39 |
System ID: |
NCFE003548:00001 |
|