An ecological worldview
Ecology demands that we alter our worldview to consider all aspects of a concept, and all of the interconnected relationships in our environments. In a sense, the values of ecology are the opposite of the values of academia. The academy wants students to pick a subject and specialize, specialize, specialize. The ultimate goal of academic is to become an “expert” in an obscure topic. A professor can be lauded for being the world’s foremost expert on South American economic policy in the World War II era, or the premier scholar on Marcel Proust’s unpublished works. Specialization, by its nature, ignores the rest of the subjects available in this wide world. I don’t mean to suggest that there is no value in being the number one Proust scholar, but what does endlessly studying the writings of one author tell its student about the intricate relationships of the world?
Consider the demographics of politicians in the U.S. Most Senators, Congressmen, and Governors studied law and government prior to running for office. In other industrialized societies, it is common practice for doctors, natural scientists, and social scientists—rather than only political scientists—to occupy the legislature. Thus, political decisions are made considering a wide variety of factors, and the democratic legislature is more representative of the diverse array of occupations in the general population. In a sense, the demographics of American politicians versus those in European countries—the classic example being that Angela Merkel, the leader of Germany, is a physicist by training—represent an anti-ecological political worldview. The partisanship and inability to pass decent social policy in the United States is a mark of the damages of anti-ecological thinking and specialization. One must understand the entire world, and all of the relationships within it, if they are going to affect positive change in it. Therefore, adopting an ecological worldview is vital to the very sustainability and survival of our society.
In a world of specialization, how can students come to a holistic understanding of all of the intermingling parts that make up planet Earth? In my opinion, the solution is to adopt an ecological worldview. Students educated via an ecological frame will have a wide understanding of all subjects, rather than an intense specialization into one. This will allow them to become better informed citizens and benefit the society as a whole. I believe that my Environmental Studies education at UVM is a great example of a holistic education with an ecological worldview. Through the lens of Environmental Studies, I have had the opportunity to study natural history, economics, religion, social movements, politics, and more. Having an understanding of all these subjects allows me to better understand the environment as a whole. — Sophia Hoffacker