Review article
Ecology and biology: environmental implications of contemporary biological theories
Tomislav Markus
; Hrvatsi institut za povijest, Zagreb
Abstract
The author analyzes basic opinions and ideas that could be find in the field of evolutional biology, during the last thirty years, from environmental standpoint. In the evolutional biology of Darwin there were tendencies of defending some significant aspects of modern civilisation, like individualistic competition and aggressive struggle for survival, that indirectly supported anthropocentric world view and the programme of "conquering the nature". The concept of biological progressivism, which views the man as the peak of evolution, also comprises strong anthropocentric elements. The anthropocentric tradition in the new biology is supported by E. Wilson, E. Mayr, N. Eldredge, R. Dawkins and others, who support eco-paternalistic concepts and "the wise managing" with nature, within "the enlightened" technical civilisation. Eco-centric tradition, based on the concept of deep time and late appearance, and, until recently, the insignificant role of a man, in the recent period has been advocated by J. Lovelock and his GaiaBtheory, a symbiotic and genetic theory by Lynn Margulis and by ideas of S. Rowe, E. Goldsmith and other biologists close to the concept of deep ecology. In spite of the differences in standpoints, almost all modern biologists agree in rejecting the dualism nature/culture, specifically the acknowledging of human belonging to the nature and the significance of biological and environmental factors for human existence and activity. This is incompatible with a modern myth of development, which has as a starting point the human exemptionalism and the priority of cultural adaptation, i.e. the insignificance or minor importance of biology and ecology for human behaviour.
Keywords
evolution; evolutional biology; ecology; nature; (neo)Darwinism; progress; anthropocentrism; eco-centrism
Hrčak ID:
47784
URI
Publication date:
15.6.2004.
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