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Aldo Leopold & Now

  In the Sand Almanac, naturalist and forester Aldo Leopold, in 1949, argued that ethics needed to enlarge the community concept to include the “land.” Leopold wasn’t talking about acres of dirt and profits from agriculture and mining but about what he called “biotic” food chains that are also “fountains of energy.” Leopold obviously rejected …

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Anthropocentrism

Anthropocentrism is a sin in most environmental literature. A simplistic interpretation of anthropocentrism means prioritizing humans and neglecting the interests of other species and ecosystems. To be virtuous is thus to be biocentric or ecocentric. But is this a false dichotomy? Becoming aware of anthropocentrism can mean marinating ourselves in guilt for what our species’ …

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Climate Anxiety

The Anthropocene is the “age of humans.” A corollary for many is an ever-increasing sense of urgency about the human predicament. As awareness and information about how climate change affects every ecosystem, increases floods, droughts, disease, agricultural integrity, and more, increases—so does anxiety. A cursory internet search of “climate anxiety” turns up millions of hits. …

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“Anthropos”

 “Anthropos” is the Greek word for “man” or “human.” Who or what is this Anthropos? In some Anthropocene literature, humans are referred to as “geological agents,” “geological forces,” or even as a “God species.” The first two metaphors emerged in the writings of Paul Crutzen, who also coined the term “Anthropocene” and was one of …

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