This document provides an overview of a presentation on literature and the environment. It discusses key concepts in ecocriticism like pollution, wilderness, apocalypse, and animals. It also summarizes some literary works that explore human relationships with the environment, such as Watership Down, Ring of Bright Water, and works by J.M. Coetzee. The document also briefly outlines some South African examples of literature linked to environmental themes.
This document summarizes a research paper on the genre of "Cli-Fi", or climate fiction. It discusses how some apocalyptic novels may be attempting to portray climate change as a realistic threat. Two examples are analyzed - Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood, which depicts a dystopian future caused by prioritizing technology over humanity, and Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver, where climate change causes monarch butterflies to migrate incorrectly. While examples of Cli-Fi exist, it has not been accepted as a legitimate genre. The document analyzes how these novels meet criteria for environmentally-oriented literature by portraying humans as accountable for environmental impacts.
The document provides a collection of quotes related to environmental activism and taking action. It includes quotes that encourage individuals to take responsibility for the environment, work to eliminate pollution, poverty and violence, and foster progress through peaceful means. Other quotes discuss the need to act in the face of injustice and evil in the world. The final quotes emphasize living according to one's principles despite external pressures.
AP Biology Ch. 19 descent with modificationStephanie Beck
This document defines key terms related to evolution such as evolution, paleontology, catastrophism, gradualism, uniformitarianism, and natural selection. It then discusses the ideas of early thinkers like Hutton, Cuvier, Lamarck, and Lyell and how their ideas influenced Darwin. It describes Darwin's voyage on the Beagle where he made observations that influenced his theory of evolution by natural selection, which he published in On the Origin of Species. Natural selection results from variation within populations, the struggle for survival, and the inheritance of favorable traits, leading over generations to evolution.
This document summarizes the development of the environmental movement in the United States from the 1940s through the 1970s. It discusses how concerns about nuclear weapons and pesticides in the 1940s-1960s laid the groundwork for the modern environmental movement. The 1960s saw the beginning of environmental legislation and activism. The 1970s are characterized as a time of "practical maturation" where the environmental movement achieved significant political successes, including the creation of the EPA and passage of major environmental laws and regulations that addressed issues like air and water pollution. Scientific understanding of environmental issues also advanced in the 1970s.
Darwin said, "If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.”
Darwin, C. (1872) Origin of Species, 6th ed. (1988), New York University Press, New York, p. 154.
180 years later, his theory has broken down according to his own criteria! There is ABSOLUTELY NOT ONE TRANSITIONAL FOSSIL BETWEEN KINDS OF ANIMALS. DARWIN'S THEORY IS WRONG!
And his ideas have promoted racism and white supremacy more than any other single person worldwide for the past 150 years! Darwin needs to be Dethroned in our scientific and educational systems.
1. The document summarizes Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection as presented in his 1859 book On the Origin of Species. It discusses how Darwin built on earlier ideas about transmutation of species and biogeography to develop the theory of evolution by descent with modification and natural selection.
2. Darwin proposed that species slowly evolve over generations through natural selection of inheritable traits that aid survival and reproduction in the local environment. He provided evidence from artificial selection, biogeography, homology, and his observations of the Galapagos finches.
3. The theory revolutionized biology by providing a naturalistic explanation for adaptation and the diversity of life without needing to invoke design. While controversial when first published
This document provides an overview of the concept of sustainability through examining the Biosphere II experiment and discussing four dimensions of sustainability: human survival, biodiversity, equity, and life quality. The Biosphere II experiment showed that creating a self-sustaining closed ecosystem is extremely complex and prone to unforeseen issues. Regarding human survival, while humans are unlikely to go extinct, environmental damage could kill many individuals and devastate cultures. Biodiversity is also threatened by human activity. Achieving true sustainability requires consideration of all living creatures as well as ensuring equity and a decent quality of life.
A Powerpoint presentation about a brief introduction to Plant Evolution and Evolution as a whole. It's definition and how it came to be.
Includes basic apomorphies from the ViridiPlantae up to the Angiosperms...
This document summarizes a research paper on the genre of "Cli-Fi", or climate fiction. It discusses how some apocalyptic novels may be attempting to portray climate change as a realistic threat. Two examples are analyzed - Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood, which depicts a dystopian future caused by prioritizing technology over humanity, and Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver, where climate change causes monarch butterflies to migrate incorrectly. While examples of Cli-Fi exist, it has not been accepted as a legitimate genre. The document analyzes how these novels meet criteria for environmentally-oriented literature by portraying humans as accountable for environmental impacts.
The document provides a collection of quotes related to environmental activism and taking action. It includes quotes that encourage individuals to take responsibility for the environment, work to eliminate pollution, poverty and violence, and foster progress through peaceful means. Other quotes discuss the need to act in the face of injustice and evil in the world. The final quotes emphasize living according to one's principles despite external pressures.
AP Biology Ch. 19 descent with modificationStephanie Beck
This document defines key terms related to evolution such as evolution, paleontology, catastrophism, gradualism, uniformitarianism, and natural selection. It then discusses the ideas of early thinkers like Hutton, Cuvier, Lamarck, and Lyell and how their ideas influenced Darwin. It describes Darwin's voyage on the Beagle where he made observations that influenced his theory of evolution by natural selection, which he published in On the Origin of Species. Natural selection results from variation within populations, the struggle for survival, and the inheritance of favorable traits, leading over generations to evolution.
This document summarizes the development of the environmental movement in the United States from the 1940s through the 1970s. It discusses how concerns about nuclear weapons and pesticides in the 1940s-1960s laid the groundwork for the modern environmental movement. The 1960s saw the beginning of environmental legislation and activism. The 1970s are characterized as a time of "practical maturation" where the environmental movement achieved significant political successes, including the creation of the EPA and passage of major environmental laws and regulations that addressed issues like air and water pollution. Scientific understanding of environmental issues also advanced in the 1970s.
Darwin said, "If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.”
Darwin, C. (1872) Origin of Species, 6th ed. (1988), New York University Press, New York, p. 154.
180 years later, his theory has broken down according to his own criteria! There is ABSOLUTELY NOT ONE TRANSITIONAL FOSSIL BETWEEN KINDS OF ANIMALS. DARWIN'S THEORY IS WRONG!
And his ideas have promoted racism and white supremacy more than any other single person worldwide for the past 150 years! Darwin needs to be Dethroned in our scientific and educational systems.
1. The document summarizes Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection as presented in his 1859 book On the Origin of Species. It discusses how Darwin built on earlier ideas about transmutation of species and biogeography to develop the theory of evolution by descent with modification and natural selection.
2. Darwin proposed that species slowly evolve over generations through natural selection of inheritable traits that aid survival and reproduction in the local environment. He provided evidence from artificial selection, biogeography, homology, and his observations of the Galapagos finches.
3. The theory revolutionized biology by providing a naturalistic explanation for adaptation and the diversity of life without needing to invoke design. While controversial when first published
This document provides an overview of the concept of sustainability through examining the Biosphere II experiment and discussing four dimensions of sustainability: human survival, biodiversity, equity, and life quality. The Biosphere II experiment showed that creating a self-sustaining closed ecosystem is extremely complex and prone to unforeseen issues. Regarding human survival, while humans are unlikely to go extinct, environmental damage could kill many individuals and devastate cultures. Biodiversity is also threatened by human activity. Achieving true sustainability requires consideration of all living creatures as well as ensuring equity and a decent quality of life.
A Powerpoint presentation about a brief introduction to Plant Evolution and Evolution as a whole. It's definition and how it came to be.
Includes basic apomorphies from the ViridiPlantae up to the Angiosperms...
Presentation used to teach graduate class about Conservation Science and some of the leading Environmental Education authors that have shaped the history of both conservation and ecological thought: Leopold, Carson, E.O. Wilson, Muir, Ehrlich, Meyers and Mac Arthur. A comparison between important ecological terms are included in the presentation such as Keystone verses Umbrella species; the Edge Effect verses SLOSS; lastly Conservation Biology compared to Restoration Ecology.
This document discusses the history and development of conservation science. It describes how extinction rates are high, with 50-150 species going extinct daily. Conservation science emerged in the late 19th century with early ecologists. In the mid-20th century, scientists like Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, and E.O. Wilson helped educate the public on environmental issues and shape the scientific design of wilderness reserves through their research and advocacy work. Their work influenced the growth of the environmental movement and establishment of organizations like the Society for Conservation Biology.
(Xrisk 101): Existential Risk for Interstellar AdvocatesHeath Rezabek
(This paper is based on a joint presentation given at Icarus Interstellar’s Starship Congress, August 15-18, 2013. This work forms the basis for Project Astrolabe, at Icarus Interstellar.) http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/introducing-project-astrolabe-navigating-the-future-of-civilization/
Though the concept of Existential Risk or Xrisk denotes risks to our very existence, it will be shown that Xrisk is far from intractable or imponderable. Because of the subtypes described in our session below (Permanent Stagnation and Flawed Realization), humanity can do much to improve the prospects for Earth-originating intelligent life tomorrow by working to improve its prospects today.
This begins with directly mitigating the extinction risks that can be mitigated, and with safeguarding—to the best of humanity’s abilities—the scientific, cultural, and biological record so that future recoveries are possible if needed. The Vessel proposal attempts a unified approach to this work. If existential risk is well mitigated, the prospects for Earth- originating life over the very long term are shown to be expansive.
(Xrisk 101) is divided into two parts, and mirrors the format of the original presentation. The first part, authored by Heath Rezabek, will cover the fundamentals of Xrisk, and update on the Vessel project, a framework for preserving the cultural, scientific, and biological record in resilient facilities, on Earth and beyond. The second part, authored by Nick Nielsen, will explore the longer term implications of overcoming Xrisk for the future of civilization.
22 descent with modification a darwinian viewkindarspirit
This document provides an overview of Chapter 22 from Campbell Biology, Ninth Edition, which discusses Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. It summarizes Darwin's voyage on the HMS Beagle where he began developing his ideas about evolution. It also describes Darwin developing the theory over many years, influenced by thinkers like Malthus, Lyell, and Wallace. Darwin finally published On the Origin of Species in 1859, introducing his theory that natural selection drives evolution by preferentially propagating advantageous inherited traits.
Competition occurs when multiple species rely on the same limited resources. Warblers avoid competition by specializing on different parts of the same trees. Species can coexist if they divide resources in their realized niches to minimize overlap with their fundamental niches. Predation also reduces competition by controlling populations that could otherwise outcompete other species. Greater biodiversity in ecosystems leads to higher productivity and stability.
This document provides information about eco-criticism in 3 paragraphs. It defines eco-criticism as the study of the relationship between literature and the physical environment. It notes that eco-criticism borrows from fields like ecology, sustainable design, and environmental history. It further defines key terms like ecology, environmentalism, and explains that eco-criticism positions nature at the center rather than humans. It provides examples of how eco-criticism examines human perceptions of wilderness and their representation in popular culture and literature.
The document discusses several key threats to species conservation: 1) species extinction which is largely caused by human activity that destroys habitats or uses elements of the environment, 2) poaching which kills many animals and accelerates extinction, 3) habitat destruction by human acts or disasters that impacts animal lives, 4) invasive species that humans move to new areas causing harmful ecological changes, and 5) endangered species such as pandas, foxes, and whales that are becoming rare to find. The group believes conservation is an important but difficult challenge for humanity going forward.
Charles Darwin: The Galapagos Finches and the Emergence of Evolutionary TheoryTom Moritz
Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution by natural selection after observing finches during his voyage on the HMS Beagle and reading Thomas Malthus' work on population growth. Darwin noticed that there was variation among finches and that some variations would help individuals survive and pass traits to offspring more successfully. This led him to propose that evolution occurs through natural selection preserving favorable traits.
The document discusses the negative impacts of using DDT to control Dutch elm disease at Michigan State University in the 1950s. It led to the indirect poisoning of robins and other bird species through earthworms that had consumed leaves coated with the pesticide. DDT killed many robins directly and reduced their ability to reproduce, potentially driving them to extinction. Though DDT helped control the insect pest, it had unintended consequences of destroying populations of birds and other animals by traveling up the food chain. The use of DDT highlights how pesticides can harm non-target species and disrupt ecosystems.
Evolution occurs through natural selection acting on genetic variation within populations over many generations, resulting in the descent of species from common ancestors. The theory of evolution by natural selection was first proposed by Charles Darwin in 1859. Key evidence includes:
- All living things share universal biochemical and genetic similarities, suggesting a common origin. Comparisons of genes and biochemistry across species reveal relationships that match the tree of life.
- Fossil and anatomical evidence shows a progression of evolutionary changes within lineages over millions of years, with many transitional forms between ancient and modern species.
- Mechanisms like genetic mutation, recombination and natural selection can explain how heritable traits change over time to enable populations to adapt to their environments. Examples
presentation contain different type of interactions, competition-intra and inter-specific, mechanism of competition-Exploitation and Interference, Mathematical models of Competition i.e. Hutchinson Ratio, Exponential Growth, Logistic Model, Lotka-Volterra Competition Model, Tilman's Resource Model, Results of Competition i.e. Range restriction, Competitive Displacement, Competitive Exclusion , Competitive Displacement Hypothesis, Ecological Niche, Evolution of new species, Factors Affecting Competition, Case studies
Two species when occupy in same habitat accumulating same resource in same manner then competition is inevitable. The normal logistic growth is not expected. Lotka and Volterra proposed equation to describe the interspecific competition among the species. Either one of the species wins other is excluded or they co-exist in unstable or stable manner.
Garrett Hardin, an American ecologist and microbiologist, published "The Tragedy of the Commons" in 1968. The concept describes a shared resource where individual users receive the full benefits of their personal use while losses are distributed amongst all. This results in tragedy for all as increased individual usage depletes the common resource. Hardin argued that appeals to individual conscience are ineffective and proposed mutual coercion through government regulation of resources like limiting population growth or restricting pollution.
Much of the geographical work of the past hundred yearsDavid Ditchett
The document discusses Charles Darwin's influence on the field of geography over the past 100 years. It notes that pre-Darwinian geography was more of an amateur pursuit without strong scientific foundations. Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, as presented in On the Origin of Species, provided inspiration for the development of geography as a rigorous academic discipline. Many early pioneering geographers incorporated Darwinian ideas like adaptation, competition, and survival of the fittest into both physical and human geography. The document examines several influential geographers like Friedrich Ratzel and Halford Mackinder who helped professionalize geography and ensure its place in academia by applying evolutionary concepts to their work.
This document provides an overview of human geography, including its nature and scope. It discusses key concepts in human geography such as environmental determinism, possibilism, and neo-determinism. It outlines the broad stages in the development of human geography as a discipline from early exploration and imperial interests to modern quantitative and qualitative approaches. The document also lists and describes various fields and sub-fields that make up the subject matter of human geography, reflecting its interdisciplinary nature.
Garrett Hardin's 1968 paper "Tragedy of the Commons" argues that individuals acting in their own self-interest will ultimately deplete a shared limited resource. He uses a pasture analogy to show that while an individual benefits from adding more cattle to the pasture, it is detrimental to the common good. Hardin asserts that this problem has no technical solution and requires a fundamental change in morality. The paper discusses other examples like the prisoner's dilemma, Easter Island's deforestation, and approaches to managing shared resources through community norms, government regulations, and market mechanisms. Critics argue alternative perspectives and solutions around the concept of the tragedy of the commons.
Evolution, biodiversity, and population ecology by Kiersten LippmannKiersten Lippmann
Beautiful, graphic rich slides to engage students based on Essential Environment by Withgott and Laposota. Slides cover Chapter 3 evolution, biodiversity and population ecology
This document summarizes the history of DDT and the scientific fraud surrounding its ban. It argues that DDT saved millions of lives by reducing mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, but was banned due to one popular book and faulty research claims. The ban has led to millions of preventable deaths from malaria. The document questions the scientific integrity of studies claiming DDT harmed birds and humans, noting populations of many bird species actually increased with DDT use.
Ecocriticism examines the relationship between humanity and nature in literary works. It emerged in the late 1970s amid growing environmental concerns. Ecocriticism analyzes how texts represent or relate to the natural world and evaluates their positive or negative environmental messages. It takes an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on fields like sociology, ecology, and politics. Major figures established ecocriticism academically in the United States and United Kingdom in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Ecocriticism remains an important lens for addressing the global environmental crisis through literary analysis.
This document provides an overview of ecocriticism as a theory and approach to literary studies. It defines ecocriticism as the interdisciplinary study of literature and the environment. The document notes that ecocriticism emerged in the 1960s and discusses its two waves - the first in the 1980s emphasized writing about nature, while the second in the 1990s broadened the definition of environment and led to ecojustice movements. It identifies William Rueckert's 1978 essay as coining the term "ecocriticism" and discusses different types including pastoral, wilderness, and ecofeminism approaches. Key points are that ecocriticism centers nature, studies literature and the physical environment, and aims to protect the
Ecocriticism examines the relationship between literature and the environment through an interdisciplinary lens. Ecocritics analyze how nature is portrayed in texts and how literature can help address environmental issues. They consider questions like how nature and humanity's place within it are represented, whether nature exists for human needs alone, and how literature and literary studies can contribute to ecological discussions. Ecocriticism emerged in response to environmental crises and seeks to promote ecocentric perspectives in re-examining works of literature.
Presentation used to teach graduate class about Conservation Science and some of the leading Environmental Education authors that have shaped the history of both conservation and ecological thought: Leopold, Carson, E.O. Wilson, Muir, Ehrlich, Meyers and Mac Arthur. A comparison between important ecological terms are included in the presentation such as Keystone verses Umbrella species; the Edge Effect verses SLOSS; lastly Conservation Biology compared to Restoration Ecology.
This document discusses the history and development of conservation science. It describes how extinction rates are high, with 50-150 species going extinct daily. Conservation science emerged in the late 19th century with early ecologists. In the mid-20th century, scientists like Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, and E.O. Wilson helped educate the public on environmental issues and shape the scientific design of wilderness reserves through their research and advocacy work. Their work influenced the growth of the environmental movement and establishment of organizations like the Society for Conservation Biology.
(Xrisk 101): Existential Risk for Interstellar AdvocatesHeath Rezabek
(This paper is based on a joint presentation given at Icarus Interstellar’s Starship Congress, August 15-18, 2013. This work forms the basis for Project Astrolabe, at Icarus Interstellar.) http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/introducing-project-astrolabe-navigating-the-future-of-civilization/
Though the concept of Existential Risk or Xrisk denotes risks to our very existence, it will be shown that Xrisk is far from intractable or imponderable. Because of the subtypes described in our session below (Permanent Stagnation and Flawed Realization), humanity can do much to improve the prospects for Earth-originating intelligent life tomorrow by working to improve its prospects today.
This begins with directly mitigating the extinction risks that can be mitigated, and with safeguarding—to the best of humanity’s abilities—the scientific, cultural, and biological record so that future recoveries are possible if needed. The Vessel proposal attempts a unified approach to this work. If existential risk is well mitigated, the prospects for Earth- originating life over the very long term are shown to be expansive.
(Xrisk 101) is divided into two parts, and mirrors the format of the original presentation. The first part, authored by Heath Rezabek, will cover the fundamentals of Xrisk, and update on the Vessel project, a framework for preserving the cultural, scientific, and biological record in resilient facilities, on Earth and beyond. The second part, authored by Nick Nielsen, will explore the longer term implications of overcoming Xrisk for the future of civilization.
22 descent with modification a darwinian viewkindarspirit
This document provides an overview of Chapter 22 from Campbell Biology, Ninth Edition, which discusses Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. It summarizes Darwin's voyage on the HMS Beagle where he began developing his ideas about evolution. It also describes Darwin developing the theory over many years, influenced by thinkers like Malthus, Lyell, and Wallace. Darwin finally published On the Origin of Species in 1859, introducing his theory that natural selection drives evolution by preferentially propagating advantageous inherited traits.
Competition occurs when multiple species rely on the same limited resources. Warblers avoid competition by specializing on different parts of the same trees. Species can coexist if they divide resources in their realized niches to minimize overlap with their fundamental niches. Predation also reduces competition by controlling populations that could otherwise outcompete other species. Greater biodiversity in ecosystems leads to higher productivity and stability.
This document provides information about eco-criticism in 3 paragraphs. It defines eco-criticism as the study of the relationship between literature and the physical environment. It notes that eco-criticism borrows from fields like ecology, sustainable design, and environmental history. It further defines key terms like ecology, environmentalism, and explains that eco-criticism positions nature at the center rather than humans. It provides examples of how eco-criticism examines human perceptions of wilderness and their representation in popular culture and literature.
The document discusses several key threats to species conservation: 1) species extinction which is largely caused by human activity that destroys habitats or uses elements of the environment, 2) poaching which kills many animals and accelerates extinction, 3) habitat destruction by human acts or disasters that impacts animal lives, 4) invasive species that humans move to new areas causing harmful ecological changes, and 5) endangered species such as pandas, foxes, and whales that are becoming rare to find. The group believes conservation is an important but difficult challenge for humanity going forward.
Charles Darwin: The Galapagos Finches and the Emergence of Evolutionary TheoryTom Moritz
Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution by natural selection after observing finches during his voyage on the HMS Beagle and reading Thomas Malthus' work on population growth. Darwin noticed that there was variation among finches and that some variations would help individuals survive and pass traits to offspring more successfully. This led him to propose that evolution occurs through natural selection preserving favorable traits.
The document discusses the negative impacts of using DDT to control Dutch elm disease at Michigan State University in the 1950s. It led to the indirect poisoning of robins and other bird species through earthworms that had consumed leaves coated with the pesticide. DDT killed many robins directly and reduced their ability to reproduce, potentially driving them to extinction. Though DDT helped control the insect pest, it had unintended consequences of destroying populations of birds and other animals by traveling up the food chain. The use of DDT highlights how pesticides can harm non-target species and disrupt ecosystems.
Evolution occurs through natural selection acting on genetic variation within populations over many generations, resulting in the descent of species from common ancestors. The theory of evolution by natural selection was first proposed by Charles Darwin in 1859. Key evidence includes:
- All living things share universal biochemical and genetic similarities, suggesting a common origin. Comparisons of genes and biochemistry across species reveal relationships that match the tree of life.
- Fossil and anatomical evidence shows a progression of evolutionary changes within lineages over millions of years, with many transitional forms between ancient and modern species.
- Mechanisms like genetic mutation, recombination and natural selection can explain how heritable traits change over time to enable populations to adapt to their environments. Examples
presentation contain different type of interactions, competition-intra and inter-specific, mechanism of competition-Exploitation and Interference, Mathematical models of Competition i.e. Hutchinson Ratio, Exponential Growth, Logistic Model, Lotka-Volterra Competition Model, Tilman's Resource Model, Results of Competition i.e. Range restriction, Competitive Displacement, Competitive Exclusion , Competitive Displacement Hypothesis, Ecological Niche, Evolution of new species, Factors Affecting Competition, Case studies
Two species when occupy in same habitat accumulating same resource in same manner then competition is inevitable. The normal logistic growth is not expected. Lotka and Volterra proposed equation to describe the interspecific competition among the species. Either one of the species wins other is excluded or they co-exist in unstable or stable manner.
Garrett Hardin, an American ecologist and microbiologist, published "The Tragedy of the Commons" in 1968. The concept describes a shared resource where individual users receive the full benefits of their personal use while losses are distributed amongst all. This results in tragedy for all as increased individual usage depletes the common resource. Hardin argued that appeals to individual conscience are ineffective and proposed mutual coercion through government regulation of resources like limiting population growth or restricting pollution.
Much of the geographical work of the past hundred yearsDavid Ditchett
The document discusses Charles Darwin's influence on the field of geography over the past 100 years. It notes that pre-Darwinian geography was more of an amateur pursuit without strong scientific foundations. Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, as presented in On the Origin of Species, provided inspiration for the development of geography as a rigorous academic discipline. Many early pioneering geographers incorporated Darwinian ideas like adaptation, competition, and survival of the fittest into both physical and human geography. The document examines several influential geographers like Friedrich Ratzel and Halford Mackinder who helped professionalize geography and ensure its place in academia by applying evolutionary concepts to their work.
This document provides an overview of human geography, including its nature and scope. It discusses key concepts in human geography such as environmental determinism, possibilism, and neo-determinism. It outlines the broad stages in the development of human geography as a discipline from early exploration and imperial interests to modern quantitative and qualitative approaches. The document also lists and describes various fields and sub-fields that make up the subject matter of human geography, reflecting its interdisciplinary nature.
Garrett Hardin's 1968 paper "Tragedy of the Commons" argues that individuals acting in their own self-interest will ultimately deplete a shared limited resource. He uses a pasture analogy to show that while an individual benefits from adding more cattle to the pasture, it is detrimental to the common good. Hardin asserts that this problem has no technical solution and requires a fundamental change in morality. The paper discusses other examples like the prisoner's dilemma, Easter Island's deforestation, and approaches to managing shared resources through community norms, government regulations, and market mechanisms. Critics argue alternative perspectives and solutions around the concept of the tragedy of the commons.
Evolution, biodiversity, and population ecology by Kiersten LippmannKiersten Lippmann
Beautiful, graphic rich slides to engage students based on Essential Environment by Withgott and Laposota. Slides cover Chapter 3 evolution, biodiversity and population ecology
This document summarizes the history of DDT and the scientific fraud surrounding its ban. It argues that DDT saved millions of lives by reducing mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, but was banned due to one popular book and faulty research claims. The ban has led to millions of preventable deaths from malaria. The document questions the scientific integrity of studies claiming DDT harmed birds and humans, noting populations of many bird species actually increased with DDT use.
Ecocriticism examines the relationship between humanity and nature in literary works. It emerged in the late 1970s amid growing environmental concerns. Ecocriticism analyzes how texts represent or relate to the natural world and evaluates their positive or negative environmental messages. It takes an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on fields like sociology, ecology, and politics. Major figures established ecocriticism academically in the United States and United Kingdom in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Ecocriticism remains an important lens for addressing the global environmental crisis through literary analysis.
This document provides an overview of ecocriticism as a theory and approach to literary studies. It defines ecocriticism as the interdisciplinary study of literature and the environment. The document notes that ecocriticism emerged in the 1960s and discusses its two waves - the first in the 1980s emphasized writing about nature, while the second in the 1990s broadened the definition of environment and led to ecojustice movements. It identifies William Rueckert's 1978 essay as coining the term "ecocriticism" and discusses different types including pastoral, wilderness, and ecofeminism approaches. Key points are that ecocriticism centers nature, studies literature and the physical environment, and aims to protect the
Ecocriticism examines the relationship between literature and the environment through an interdisciplinary lens. Ecocritics analyze how nature is portrayed in texts and how literature can help address environmental issues. They consider questions like how nature and humanity's place within it are represented, whether nature exists for human needs alone, and how literature and literary studies can contribute to ecological discussions. Ecocriticism emerged in response to environmental crises and seeks to promote ecocentric perspectives in re-examining works of literature.
1. Charles Darwin was a British naturalist who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection while traveling around the world on the HMS Beagle from 1831-1836.
2. In 1859, Darwin published On the Origin of Species, which introduced the scientific theory that populations evolve over successive generations through a process of natural selection, in which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce at a higher rate.
3. Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection was highly controversial at the time due to its conflict with religious beliefs, but it established the modern framework of evolutionary biology and revolutionized scientific thought.
Approaching environmental literary education in the 21st centuryAlexander Decker
This document summarizes an article that discusses environmental literary education and ecocriticism. Some key points:
- Ecocriticism studies literature and the environment from an interdisciplinary perspective to analyze environmental issues and propose solutions.
- Joseph Meeker's 1974 book The Comedy of Survival argued that environmental crisis stems from anthropocentrism in Western culture and the tragic hero conception.
- Ecocriticism examines how nature is portrayed in works and how these portrayals have changed over time and represent current environmental issues.
- Early ecocritics in the 1960s-70s like Raymond Williams and Joseph Meeker analyzed nature themes but were scattered across fields before ecocriticism emerged as
A Note On Transdisciplinary Thinking -Meaning Making Is An ArtBecky Gilbert
This document discusses transdisciplinary thinking and problem solving by examining the work of Leonardo da Vinci. It argues that disciplinary thinking can be limiting due to "self-limiting assumptions." It analyzes da Vinci's approach across his roles as artist, scientist, engineer, and eco-designer in understanding nature. The document summarizes da Vinci's approach into four concepts: 1) Transcendence through insights from diverse projects, 2) Seeing new possibilities through an interconnected worldview, 3) Leveraging meaningful connections between ideas for innovation, and 4) Mastery through understanding phenomena by connecting them through patterns.
Ecocriticism-During the last few decades, Environment has pose.docxpauline234567
Ecocriticism
-During the last few decades, Environment has posed a great threat to human society as well as the mother earth. The extensive misuse of natural resources has left us at the brink of ditch. The rainforests are cut down, the fossil fuel is fast decreasing, the cycle of season is at disorder, ecological disaster is frequent now round the globe and our environment is at margin.
-Under these circumstances, there arose a new theory of reading nature writing during the last decade of the previous century called Ecocriticism. It is a worldwide emergent movement which came into existence as a reaction to man's anthropocentric attitude of dominating nature.
-We should make change in our attitude to nature. Literature does not float above life, so it has its role to play.
-The term ecocriticism was first coined by William Rueckert in his critical writing "Literature and Ecology: An Experiment in Ecocriticism" in 1978.
-It also advocates systematic usages of natural resources like coal, gas, forests, oil, etc. for a sustainable future.
-Ecocriticism gives emphasis on this eco-consciousness removing the ego-consciousness man .The present environmental crisis is a bi-product of human culture.
-There are two waves of ecocriticism as identified by Lawrence Buell. The first
wave ecocritics focused on nature writing, nature poetry, and wilderness
fiction"(Buell 138)They used to uphold the philosophy of organism. Here
environment effectively means natural environment. (Buell 21)The aim of the
wave was to preserve 'biotic community'(Coupe 4)
-The second wave ecocritics inclined towards environmental justice issues and a 'social ecocriticism' that takes urban landscape as seriously as 'natural landscape' (Buell 22). This wave of ecocriticism is also known as revisionist ecocriticism. It seeks to locate the vestiges of nature in cities and exposes crimes of eco-injustice against society's marginal section.
-Ecocriticism is not merely the study of nature as represented in literature. Nature here does not mean a mere fancy of its beautiful aspects like plants and animals. Nature here means the whole of the physical environment consisting of the human and the nonhuman. The interconnection between the two creates a bond which is the basis of Ecocriticism. As long as there is a harmony between the living and the non-living, there prevails a healthy eco-system for the benevolence of mankind as well as the earth.
-Anthropocence vs Biosense: Human nature is essentially anthropocentric which positions humans on top. As earth's only literary being, man considers himself as superior to every other organism. But ecocriticism decentres humanity's importance to every object of environment. In ecology, man's tragic flaw is his anthropocentric as opposed to biocentric vision, and his compulsion to conquer , harmonise ,domesticate ,violate and exploit every natural thing. Anthropocentric assumes the primacy of humans, who either sentimentalise or dominate.
Nature Oriented Verse: An Ecopoetic Critical Review of Romantic Poetry
Sabrina Abdulkadhom Abdulridha Jelal,
Al-Zahraa University for Women, Iraq
The Sixth International Conference on Languages, Linguistics, Translation and Literature
9-10 October 2021 , Ahwaz
For more information, please visit the conference website:
WWW.LLLD.IR
Harun Yahya Islam Demolition Of Evolutionzakir2012
This document provides a brief history and overview of the theory of evolution. It discusses:
1) Charles Darwin's initial observations that led him to propose natural selection and evolution, though he was aware of difficulties with his theory.
2) How Karl Marx saw Darwin's theory as providing justification for materialism and communism.
3) The development of neo-Darwinism in the 20th century in response to discoveries in genetics that challenged Darwin's original theory.
4) An alternative model called "punctuated equilibrium" that proposed evolution occurred in large jumps rather than gradual changes, though this remains unsupported by evidence.
The document questions the validity of evolution based on modern scientific findings and proposes evolution is an
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Home › 1998 › Volume 49, Issue 11 (April) › The Scale of Our Ecological Crisis
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Topics: Marxist Ecology
JOHN BELLAMY FOSTER, is a member of
the Board of the Monthly Review
Foundation, teaches sociology at the
University of Oregon and is coeditor of
Organization & Environment. He is the
author of The Theory of Monopoly
Capital (1986) and The Vulnerable
Planet (1994), both published )y
Monthly Review Press.
The Scale of Our Ecological Crisis
by John Bellamy Foster
One of the problems that has most
troubled analysts of global ecological crisis
is the question of scale. How momentous is
the ecological crisis? Is the survival of the
human species in question? What about life
in general? Are the basic biogeochemical
cycles of the planet vulnerable? Although
few now deny that there is such a thing as
an environmental crisis, or that it is in some
sense global in character, some rational
scientists insist that it is wrong to say that life itself, much less the planet, is seriously
threatened. Even the mass extinction of species, it is pointed out, has previously
occurred in evolutionary history. Critics of environmentalism (often themselves claiming
to be environmentalists) have frequently used these rational reservations on the part of
scientists to brand the environmental movement as “apocalyptic.”
Lest one conclude that this is simply a political dispute between those on the side of
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http://monthlyreview.org/subjects/marxist-ecology/
http://monthlyreview.org/author/johnbellamyfoster/
nature and the greater part of humanity, on the one hand, and those who support the
ecologically destructive status quo, on the other, it should be emphasized that the same
question has been often raised within the left itself—and sometimes by individuals
deeply concerned about environmental problems. An example of this is David Harvey’s
new book, Justice, Nature and the Geography of Difference (1996). Harvey devotes
considerable space in this work to criticizing my book, The Vulnerable Planet: A Short
Economic History of the Environment (Monthly Review Press, 1994, 1999), for the
“apocalyptic” character of its argument. In Harvey’s words,
[T]he postulation of a planetary ecological crisis, the very idea that the planet i.
This document summarizes a presentation given by Dr. Dean Kruckeberg on using an ecological framework to understand community building and managing change in organizations. Some key points:
- Society is undergoing a revolution driven by advances in communication technology that are fundamentally changing humans.
- Public relations can help address this change but current theories are deficient. Kruckeberg recommends examining a theoretical framework from natural sciences like ecology.
- The work of Aldo Leopold teaches that communities are foundational to ecology. Humans are part of the larger biotic community rather than conquerors of land.
- Leopold's concept of ecology included an "ecological conscience" and view of ethics as a community instinct.
Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and their environments. The term was coined in 1866 by Ernst Haeckel, though ideas about ecology have existed for much longer. Key developments included Alexander von Humboldt describing relationships between plants and climate in the early 1800s, and Arthur Tansley coining the term "ecosystem" in 1935 to describe the interactions within a biological community and its non-living environment. Modern ecology research examines topics like population dynamics, community interactions, ecosystem processes, and human impacts on natural systems.
Charles Darwin developed the theory of evolution by natural selection after observing variations in species during his voyage on the HMS Beagle. The document discusses the key points of Darwin's theory, including that 1) organisms produce more offspring than can survive, 2) individuals vary, 3) those best adapted to the environment survive and pass on their traits, leading populations to become better adapted over time. It also describes Darwin's observations of finches on the Galapagos Islands which provided evidence for his theory of evolution.
The document provides a history of sustainability efforts at Hope College from its founding to present day. It begins with a global context starting in the 1600s and discusses key events like the Scientific Revolution and Darwin's theory of evolution that influenced environmental thought. At Hope College, early efforts included nature writings in the student newspaper and establishing a field station in the 1970s. Course offerings expanded slowly through the 1980s-2000s across departments. Challenges included declining student interest in the 1970s and lack of required courses. The history shows an evolution from limited and isolated efforts to greater integration across disciplines today through initiatives like the environmental studies minor.
AS A GEOGRAPHER WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE THEORY OF DARWIN ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF GEOGRAPHICAL CONCEPTS, know about the theory of Darwin to learn geography easily and in an effective way to explore this ppt to understand the theory. Darwinism is a theory of biological evolution developed by the English naturalist Charles Darwin and others. It states that all species of organisms arise and develop through the natural selection of small, inherited variations that increase the individual’s ability to compete, survive, and reproduce.
The document discusses the concept of nature and the environment from several perspectives:
1) It explores the history of conservation biology and key thinkers like Aldo Leopold.
2) It examines concepts like ecosystems, novel ecosystems, and urban landscapes in the context of increasing human intervention in nature.
3) It outlines philosophies of nature like deep ecology and their focus on intrinsic value versus human interests.
4) It references the emerging idea of the Anthropocene epoch and the significant impact that human activity now has on the planet.
This document defines ecocriticism as the study of the relationship between literature and the physical environment from an earth-centered perspective. It notes that William Rueckert may have been the first to use the term "ecocriticism" in 1978. Ecocriticism expands the notion of "the world" in literary analysis to include the entire ecosphere. Ecocritics ask questions about how nature is represented in a work and the role the physical setting plays, and whether the values expressed are consistent with ecological wisdom.
Romantic Ecocriticism Front and Back Cover DesignsDewey Hall
1) Romantic Ecocriticism is an edited collection that explores the historical roots of ecocriticism in late 18th century transatlantic writing from the Romantic period.
2) The essays in the collection develop transnational and transhistorical approaches to the ecological aspects of British and American Romanticism by making connections across writers from different time periods and countries.
3) The collection offers a unique assemblage of topics that examine links between natural philosophers and literary figures interested in natural history from the Romantic period.
Similar to Mfspea3 2020 literature and the environment (20)
This presentation includes basic of PCOS their pathology and treatment and also Ayurveda correlation of PCOS and Ayurvedic line of treatment mentioned in classics.
How to Manage Your Lost Opportunities in Odoo 17 CRMCeline George
Odoo 17 CRM allows us to track why we lose sales opportunities with "Lost Reasons." This helps analyze our sales process and identify areas for improvement. Here's how to configure lost reasons in Odoo 17 CRM
Chapter wise All Notes of First year Basic Civil Engineering.pptxDenish Jangid
Chapter wise All Notes of First year Basic Civil Engineering
Syllabus
Chapter-1
Introduction to objective, scope and outcome the subject
Chapter 2
Introduction: Scope and Specialization of Civil Engineering, Role of civil Engineer in Society, Impact of infrastructural development on economy of country.
Chapter 3
Surveying: Object Principles & Types of Surveying; Site Plans, Plans & Maps; Scales & Unit of different Measurements.
Linear Measurements: Instruments used. Linear Measurement by Tape, Ranging out Survey Lines and overcoming Obstructions; Measurements on sloping ground; Tape corrections, conventional symbols. Angular Measurements: Instruments used; Introduction to Compass Surveying, Bearings and Longitude & Latitude of a Line, Introduction to total station.
Levelling: Instrument used Object of levelling, Methods of levelling in brief, and Contour maps.
Chapter 4
Buildings: Selection of site for Buildings, Layout of Building Plan, Types of buildings, Plinth area, carpet area, floor space index, Introduction to building byelaws, concept of sun light & ventilation. Components of Buildings & their functions, Basic concept of R.C.C., Introduction to types of foundation
Chapter 5
Transportation: Introduction to Transportation Engineering; Traffic and Road Safety: Types and Characteristics of Various Modes of Transportation; Various Road Traffic Signs, Causes of Accidents and Road Safety Measures.
Chapter 6
Environmental Engineering: Environmental Pollution, Environmental Acts and Regulations, Functional Concepts of Ecology, Basics of Species, Biodiversity, Ecosystem, Hydrological Cycle; Chemical Cycles: Carbon, Nitrogen & Phosphorus; Energy Flow in Ecosystems.
Water Pollution: Water Quality standards, Introduction to Treatment & Disposal of Waste Water. Reuse and Saving of Water, Rain Water Harvesting. Solid Waste Management: Classification of Solid Waste, Collection, Transportation and Disposal of Solid. Recycling of Solid Waste: Energy Recovery, Sanitary Landfill, On-Site Sanitation. Air & Noise Pollution: Primary and Secondary air pollutants, Harmful effects of Air Pollution, Control of Air Pollution. . Noise Pollution Harmful Effects of noise pollution, control of noise pollution, Global warming & Climate Change, Ozone depletion, Greenhouse effect
Text Books:
1. Palancharmy, Basic Civil Engineering, McGraw Hill publishers.
2. Satheesh Gopi, Basic Civil Engineering, Pearson Publishers.
3. Ketki Rangwala Dalal, Essentials of Civil Engineering, Charotar Publishing House.
4. BCP, Surveying volume 1
Strategies for Effective Upskilling is a presentation by Chinwendu Peace in a Your Skill Boost Masterclass organisation by the Excellence Foundation for South Sudan on 08th and 09th June 2024 from 1 PM to 3 PM on each day.
How to Make a Field Mandatory in Odoo 17Celine George
In Odoo, making a field required can be done through both Python code and XML views. When you set the required attribute to True in Python code, it makes the field required across all views where it's used. Conversely, when you set the required attribute in XML views, it makes the field required only in the context of that particular view.
2. Before we start, a public
service message:
• In times of Covid-19 be sure to wash your hands.
• Do this properly – ensure that you wash with soap and
water, for about 20 seconds.
3. Some issues before we begin
In South Africa we have many environmental concerns. In the past few
years we have had:
• A drought in Cape Town
• A drought in KZN and parts of the Eastern Cape
• Floods in various areas
• Poaching of rhino and other animals
• A movement from rural to urban communities
• Problems of air pollution (from industrial sites)
• Problems of contaminated or polluted water
4. More issues before we begin
Internationally there are environmental problems related to:
• Climate change
• Deforestation
• Wildfires in California and Australia
• Loss of or threatened species because of loss of habit or poaching
• Pollution of the air and water
• Damage to the ozone layer
• Viral infection(s)
5. The topic under discussion is ecocritcism
Note that ecocriticism is a topic that addresses how human expression
conceptualizes how we deal with the environment. It is not a concept that
deals with ecological issues in terms of science (although these writings can
influence our ideas).
It is a consideration of how humans express themselves culturally,
specifically in literature, when dealing with issues relating to the
environment.
In other words, how do we understand or seek to explore our relationship
with the environment through our novels, short stories, poetry, plays, art,
dance, comic books and movies – amongst other cultural expressions.
6. Introduction
This is a fairly recent topic in education; it has grown in significance since
the start of the 21st Century.
For many critics the start of this work was Rachel Carson’s book Silent
Spring, written in 1960. It presented a corrupted world that was destroyed
by human intervention, principally the insecticide DDT (which polluted the
water, and killed life forms in and on the water), but also making reference
to the nuclear threat of the Cold War.
The accepted term for this topic (literature and the environment) is
ecocriticism.
7. Commentary by Timothy Clark
Timothy Clark points out that ecocriticism is a relatively new critical
phenomenon, and he states that as a “defined intellectual movement
it is largely dateable to the founding of the Association for the Study
of Literature and the Environment in 1992.”
Ref: Timothy Clark (2011). The Cambridge Introduction to Literature
and the Environment. Page 4. (In the UJ library)
8. Definition
Simply put, ecocriticism is the study of the relationship between
literature and the physical environment… Ecocriticism takes an earth-
centred approach to literary studies.
(Cheryl Glotfelty and Harold Fromm, 1996. Page xviii) (This text is in
the library).
9. Examples of Ecocritical Questions
• How is nature represented in this sonnet?
• What role does the physical setting play in this novel?
• How do our metaphors of the land influence the way we treat it?
• How has the concept of wilderness changed over time?
• Do men write about nature differently from the way women do?
• Is science open to literary analysis, and, if so, how?
10. I will base several of the next few slides on
the work of Greg Garrard
Greg Garrard is currently employed at the
University of British Columbia.
His book Ecocriticism, published by Routledge, is
the best-selling text on this topic.
The first edition of the book will be included as a
reading, loaded on Blackboard electronically.
(There is a later edition, published in 2012,
available in hard copy from the library)
11. Theoretical Positions
Garrard identifies several theoretical positions in his writing. We will address
four:
Cornucopia
Environmentalism
Deep Ecology
Ecofeminism
There are commentaries on all of these positions in Garrard’s book, and in
other texts/readings.
12. Key Theoretical Positions
The following are presented by Greg Garrard:
Cornucopia: This group is not interested in environmental threats,
despite the evidence accumulated about these issues. Instead, they
argue that “the dynamism of capitalist economies will generate
solutions to environmental problems as they arise, and that increases
in population eventually produce the wealth needed to pay for
environmental improvements.” (Garrard, 2012, 19) One significant
criticism of this group is that it takes little or no account of the non-
human environment except insofar as it affects human wealth or
welfare. “Nature is only valued in terms of its usefulness to us.”
(Garrard, 2012, 21)
13. More on Theoretical Positions
Environmentalism: Garrard states that this is a broad range of people
who are concerned about environmental matters such as global
warming, but who would wish to maintain their standard of living.
They are concerned about pollution and scarcity of natural resources,
but they look to their governments or non-governmental agencies to
provide solutions. (Garrard, 2012, 21)
14. Yet More on Theoretical Positions
Deep Ecology: The well-being and flourishing of human and nonhuman
life on Earth have value in themselves (synonyms: intrinsic value,
inherent worth). These values are independent of the usefulness of the
nonhuman world for human purposes. (Garrard, 2012, 23)
16. One More Key Theoretical Position
Ecofeminism: Deep ecology identifies the anthropocentric dualism
humanity/nature as the ultimate source of anti-ecological beliefs and
practices, but ecofeminism also blames the androcentric dualism
man/woman…
Ecofeminism involves the recognition that these two arguments share
a common ‘logic of domination’, or underlying ‘master model’ that
women have been associated with nature, the material, the
emotional, and the particular, while men have been associated with
culture, the nonmaterial, the rational, and the abstract. (Garrard,
2012, 26)
17. Val Plumwood Much feminist theory has detected a masculine
presence in the officially gender-neutral concept
of reason. In contrast, my account suggests that
it is not a masculine identity pure and simple, but
the multiple, complex cultural identity of the
master formed in the context of class, race
species and gender domination, which is at
issue. This cultural identity has framed the
dominant concepts of western thought,
especially those of reason and nature. The
recognition of a more complex dominator identity
is, I would argue, essential if feminism is not to
repeat the mistakes of a reductionist
programme such as Marxism, which treats one
form of domination as central and aims to reduce
all others to subsidiary forms of it which will
‘wither away’ once the ‘fundamental’ form is
overcome. From Feminism and the Mastery of Nature
18. There are other positions
• Greg Garrard mentions eco-Marxism and other theories.
• Some of the theories have developed out of an interest in gender
studies. Other theories have developed out of postcolonialism.
• The theories mentioned above have significance, but I have chosen to
work with the four explored in the previous slides.
• You will find information about all these positions in the readings.
• I include in the readings an article on ecocriticism and postcolonial
studies, in which the work of Zakes Mda is addressed.
19. Key Concepts
• Pollution
• Wilderness
• Apocalypse
• Animals
There are others, but we will focus on the above.
(From: Greg Garrard, 2012)
20. Pollution
• Greg Garrard refers to Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring to illustrate this
issue. She presents a world that is Eden-like, but that is destroyed
through neglect and pollutants – in particular poisons like DDT. DDT
was used to kill mosquito larvae which were in dams and ponds. DDT
was an attempt to reduce the spread of malaria. It was responsible
for killing many other life forms in the water.
• Garrard makes the point that Carson’s idea links to both wilderness
and apocalypse.
• The idea of wilderness is explored in the next slide (it refers to a place
that is free of human intervention). Apocalypse is explored in the
slide after “Wilderness” – it refers to the end of the world.
21. Wilderness
• A wilderness is often seen as a place removed from human culture.
This has the value of being pure, but it is menacing because it is
untamed.
• Wilderness is associated with Eden, but after humans are expelled, it
is associated with exile.
• Satan tempted Christ in the wilderness; a negative connotation.
• America, the New World (for Europeans) was an example of a
wilderness; it provided renewed opportunities. However, it was
already a home to Native Americans and the European people who
colonised the land were often fleeing elements of their homeland.
22. Apocalypse
• Many people believe that the end of the world is nigh. They have
been believing this for centuries, so it is a difficult position to
maintain.
• Paul Ehrlich predicted problems of feeding people after the 1970s –
he argued that population growth would lead to mass starvation.
Problems of overpopulation are reflected in John Brunner’s 1968 Sci-
Fi novel Stand on Zanzibar, and his 1972 novel The Sheep Look Up.
• Nuclear weapons and technological advances in warfare, as well as
viruses that seem immune to human intervention, have added
impetus to the idea of apocalypse. Examples include the novel Fail
Safe, the film Dr Strangelove, and the novella I am Legend.
23. Apocalypse…again
• Did you notice the reference to viruses in the previous slide – towards
the bottom? A Covid-19 issue, perhaps.
• Literature has explored the issue of viruses and human life for some
time. The genre most frequently making use of this type of story is
that of Sci-Fi (Science fiction).
• In the previous slide I mentioned I am Legend, a short story about a
man who survives the spread of a virus across the planet. The story is
by Richard Matheson and was made into various films, including The
Omega Man (Omega means last/final – it is the last letter in the
Greek alphabet), and I am Legend starring Will Smith.
24. More on apocalypse and viruses in literature
The idea of a virus attacking humanity and changing our lives is an
interesting thing. It raises many questions, including:
Do human beings really know how to ensure that we survive?
Do we have the knowledge to adapt?
What is the cost to our lives, and ways of life, when faced with a
pandemic?
What is the human future?
25. Animals
Peter Singer emphasises the term speciesism:
Just as women or Africans have been mistreated on the grounds of
morally irrelevant physiological differences, so animals suffer because
they fall on the wrong side of an ‘insuperable line’ dividing beings that
count from those who do not. (Garrard, quoting Singer)
Singer and others explore the way in which humans have dominated
other animal life for centuries, and they question the ethics of this
behaviour.
26. More on Animals
Jeremy Bentham points out that the division (between humans and
animals) is not easy to make. For people who argue that humans are
more significant because they have higher intelligence (a frequent
claim), Bentham points out that a full grown dog or horse is far more
intellectually capable than a day-old human infant. In other words, not
all humans are more intelligent than all animals.
27. Shakespeare and the Environment
Consider A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, and The Tempest.
In A Midsummer Night’s Dream the fairies control the weather, and because
there is conflict in the fairy world, between the King and Queen, there is a
breakdown of the natural order – examples are rivers that burst their banks and
flood the land.
In Macbeth there is a breakdown of the natural order after the murder of the
King (King Duncan). An owl is seen in the day (they are normally active during the
night) and the King’s horses eat each other, which is highly aberrant (unusual).
These events show a distortion of nature, and this occurs because the King has
been killed.
In The Tempest one of the characters is able to use magic to control the weather
– an unnatural occurrence, and a manipulation of the environment.
28. Language Change and the Environment
Technology adds new words and meanings to our language usage. For
example, telephone is a word that required the instrument to be
invented. Thereafter, two words from an existing language were used
to label the instrument. (The two words were from Greek: tele means
“far”, and phone means “sound”.)
Terms such as DVD, bluetooth, laptop and so on all developed as a
result of technology. DVD stands for digital video disc, but there is
some evidence that it originally stood for digital versatile disc.
Other words that have been developed as a result of changes in the
human environment – through invention – are scuba (self contained
underwater breathing apparatus), laser, and radar.
29. The social environment of language
The social environment also facilitates language change. An example is
cowabunga! It was originally thought to be from a Native American
language, then appeared in the Howdy Doody Show on TV in the late
1950s. It was adopted by surfers. Later it appeared in TV shows like The
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
30. Literature Linked to Animals
This book is a children’s book
about the life of an otter. It is
notable that the story is not
sentimental; the story explores
how an otter lives and the
challenges it faces.
At the end of the novel the otter
dies when it is hunted by people
with dogs.
No happy ending for the children
reading this story.
31. Ring of Bright Water
This is a pic of Gavin Maxwell with his otter, Mijbil. It is of a sub-
species, Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli, which means “Maxwell’s
otter”. The otter originated in Iraq.
32. About Ring of Bright Water
• The book is set mostly in Scotland. It is a non-fiction account, and the book
has several photos of Maxwell with his otters (he had more than one,
although Mijbil was the best known of them).
• Mijbil was killed by accident when Maxwell’s friend was walking along the
road with the otter. (Maxwell had gone to London for business). A
workman in a ditch killed the otter with a pick because he thought it was a
wild animal, or a rat.
• The story was made into a movie starring Virginia MacKenna, who had
been in the movie Born Free, and now runs the Born Free foundation
• Maxwell also wrote a book about his attempted business hunting basking
sharks for their oil – the book is Harpoon at a Venture.
33. Watership Down
Watership Down presents rabbits that
are anthropomorphized, in that they
have language and have a mythology of
their own. Despite this, Adams also
located the rabbits in a reality that he
observed over time.
The novel is a story of rabbits that are
driven out of their warren (their
underground tunnels) by human beings.
The rabbits are gassed, but some escape
and set off to find a new home.
The actions of the humans are shown to
be lacking in concern for other living
things.
34. Watership Down
The novel was very successful. It
reached number one in the New York
bestseller list. It was made into a
cartoon movie, with a song called Bright
Eyes, written by Mike Batt and
performed by Art Garfunkel, which
reached number one in the US charts.
Later there was a TV series.
Notably, human concerns – the need for
a place to live, the desire for happiness,
the desire for purpose – are reflected in
the characters, who are rabbits but with
many human attributes. The novel
suggests that humans and animals have
many shared elements.
35. South African Examples
This is a young adult or children’s novel
that won an award. It is set in South
Africa, in the future, when animals have
been hunted almost to extinction. In
order to ensure the survival of the
animal species, human organs are
transplanted into animals, so some
humans are bred for this purpose.
Bearing in mind the destruction caused
to animal habitats and the vulnerability
of species to poaching, there is a
disjunction between this novel and the
reality in which we live (the reality and
the novel’s story do not reflect
agreement).
36. Another South African example
Coetzee is a Nobel Prize and Booker award-
winning writer, originally from South Africa. He
now lives in Adelaide, Australia.
This short book questions how we should relate
to animals. Coetzee presents an image in which
he compares the killing of animals as a food
supply to the killing of people in the Holocaust
in World War II – the image is one of brutal
unconcern about the deaths and horrific
conditions of other living things.
The short book is highly critical of human
attitudes towards animals as a food supply.
The book was included as a section of another
Coetzee novel, Elizabeth Costello.
37. Another South African example:
Michael K is a gardener by trade.
His race is never stated, which is a
significant issue in pre-1994 South
Africa. A gardener engages with
nature, but also shapes nature to
his/her will.
A gardener provides nature with a
sense of order. In the novel the
society is in a state of revolution,
and this suggests a lack of order.
In a state of chaos, what is the
role, if any, of the gardener?
38. Another South African example
The novel addresses issues of the
urban and the rural, xenophobia,
and the HIV/AIDS issue that has
been part of South African society
for some time.
The novel raises questions about
ideas and practices in our society,
and asks how we are to live.
39. Another South African example
Maru addresses issues of race (black, white,
Masarwa) and the role of women in society. In
addition, the issue of rural tradition is presented
and explored.
The role of women in traditional, tribal, society
is explored.
Bessie Head was a female author of mixed race
who experienced discrimination during the
period of apartheid. She lived for a long time in
Botswana and wrote of her experiences and
observations there.
(This book is a good choice for exploring
ecofeminism).
Another of her books which has value for
addressing ecocritical concerns is When Rain
Clouds Gather, which includes ideas about
farming and how humans subsist.
40. The Jungle Book
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling is a
well-known text. Disney has produced
two film versions of it, the first being
animated (1968) and the later 21st
Century version a live-action/CGI
version.
The story is of the human child, Mowgli,
who is raised by wolves.
Notably the book is critical of humans –
when Mowgli has dealings with his own
species, he rejects their treatment of
the jungle and its living things – they do
not understand the jungle but try to
determine how it is to be used.
41. The Jungle Book
The book is a series of connected
stories, with Mowgli as the main figure,
but there are sections between the
chapters that are poems or songs.
Notably there is a Law of the Jungle,
which all animals must know. The bear,
Baloo, teaches all the animals.
The law of the jungle, in this book, is
not just the idea that “anything goes”,
or that things are “chaotic”. Indeed, the
law of the jungle is about working
together as a community. The wolf-pack
has a leader and the pack is governed
by communal needs.
42. William Gibson
In this novel he introduced the
word cyberspace.
William Gibson is a Sci-Fi author.
This novel connects to the world
of computers and the internet,
and is a commentary on the
world of 4IR, although it
predates 4IR.
43. Philip K. Dick
This author wrote several texts about humans and the environment,
particularly the world of the future.
His most famous text is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, which was
made into the movie Blade Runner. It envisages a future in which there are
robotic beings who are impossible to recognize as different from humans.
These beings are termed replicants and they are not allowed to live on earth
(in the future humans have colonized other places in the solar system). The
question is: If these non-human beings are not able to be recognized as not
human (they are just like humans), how are they to be treated?
A similar question is asked in Isaac Asimov’s story The Bicentennial Man,
about a robot that evolves to become a human being.
44. The previous slide raised questions that are
about speculation
• The issues raised in the previous slide are not yet those that require
immediate answers.
• However, what are we to make of 4IR-related matters, in which the
nature of what it is to be human is explored/renegotiated/changed?