Pregledni rad
FROM FOOD GATHERING TO IMPERIUM HUMANUM. ENVIRONMENTAL FACETS OF THE RISE AND FALL OF THE HUMAN SPECIES
Tomislav Markus
; Hrvatski institut za povijest, Zagreb
Sažetak
Giving basic outlines, the author analyses the relation of the human species to its environment, from the period of primitive societies to the present time. He points out that man, as the only non–specialised animal, is forced to behave and act anti–environmentally, i.e. to transform the natural environment. This natural environment has had local or regional features until the modern era. During the 19th century, considerable degradation and pollution of the environment within European industrialized countries and North America took place. This tendency has become significantly more intense in the whole world, because of the population explosion, industry of mass consumerism in rich countries, and especially because of the production of various chemicals, radioactive isotopes and, during the last decades, the accelerated extermination of numerous species and the aggression, in the form of genetic engineering, on the very basis of the life itself. Predominant solutions – technical innovations, eco–paternalism, saving particular species etc. – have not been justified, because they stand in favour of mass anti–civilisation, and have not been realistic either, because they could not last for a longer period. The continuance of this activity leads to a definite disaster, and the only solution is, if there is enough time for it to be realised, a drastic population decrease and rejection of a wrong–directed way of life that has features of technicism and consumerism, and the acceptance of spiritual values – non–specialised education and way of thinking, ethical and esthetical values.
Ključne riječi
anti–environmental activity; eco–paternalism; Imperium Humanum; human dictatorship; material expansion; mass anti–civilisation
Hrčak ID:
141743
URI
Datum izdavanja:
15.9.2000.
Posjeta: 1.023 *