Process Studies Supplement Overcoming Anthropocentric ... - Here

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PROCESS STUDIES SUPPLEMENTS 12 (2008)
Deconstructionism and radical ecologism also couple themselves
in that the notion that humanity is Nature ties in with Deep Ecology’s
principles for intervening in, and counteracting, anthropocentric activities,
such as slash-and-burning a rainforest so as to develop the land.
Deep Ecologists employ the term “ecological resisting” in which one,
for example, does what is necessary to protect the ecosystem. Ecological
resisting implies that in protecting the rainforest, one is protecting oneself.
There is an implicit identification of oneself with Nature, namely, an
erasure of the metaphysical separation between Nature and the human. As
Seed suggests, the idea that “I am protecting the rainforest . . . develops
into ‘I am part of the rainforest protecting myself’” (Devall et al. 199).
He continues, “what a relief then! The thousands of years of imagined
separation are over and we begin to recall our true nature . . . the change
is a spiritual one” (243). Certainly, an identification of oneself as a part
of Nature is a positive step in defending the environment. However, it
is a fallacious and dangerous idea to identify oneself with the collective
totality of all organisms composing Nature, as though one’s own interests
are completely at one with the single living and self-regulating system that
is Nature. To think that one speaks for, or acts on behalf of the totality of
the organisms which also help to compose Nature, or to want to do so,
is the height of dogmatism.
While Deep Ecologists emphasize non-violence in ecological resisting,
it is easy to see how the principle of ecological resistance can be taken to
a radical extreme, implying violence. For example, Derrida’s deconstruction,
interpreted as the desire to be Nature, can be said to accompany
the strict anti-humanism and biocentrism of a radical ecological standpoint.
In light of the ecological crisis, some strands of radical ecologism
postulate the very existence of human beings qua “human” as the central
“problem” and therefore we ought to fully erase the human and become
one with the destructive powers of Nature. As made infamous by the
Earth Liberation Front (E.L.F.), some streams of radically anti-humanist
ecologism attempt to mimic the destructive powers of Nature, as against
human structures, engaging in acts of vandalism, arson, and terrorism.
For example, the E.L.F. has allegedly spiked trees in order to prevent
logging, sabotaged biotechnology industry buildings, and set fire to
hotel and ski resort structures (Pierce 77-81). Radical anti-humanist
ecologism would perhaps applaud the devastation that occurred in New
Orleans as a result of Hurricane Katrina, holding that it serves the human