Environmental Ethics Cross Cultural Explorations

The volume "Environmental Ethics: Cross-cultural Explorations" places cross-cultural study at the center of inquiry. The cross-culturally rich explorations collected in this volume seek to critically examine some theoretical assumptions driving current debates in the field like anthropocentrism, individualism etc. In addition, they also endeavor to develop an integrative approach which can better channel ways in which current global challenges to the environment can be met.

Disparate perceptions and conceptual frameworks of environment and the relationship between humans and nature often lead to confusion, constraints on co-operation and collaboration and even conflict when society tries to deal with today’s urgent and complex environment research and policy challenges. Such disparities in perception and "world view" are driven by many factors. They include differences in culture, religion, ethical frameworks, scientific methodologies and approaches, disciplines, political, social and philosophical traditions, life styles and consumption patterns as well as alternative economic paradigms. Distribution of poverty or wealth between north and south may thus be seen as consequence of the above mentioned disparities, which is a challenge for it’s universal reasoned evaluation. This volume discusses a wide range of factors influencing "Environment across Cultures" with a view to identifying ways and means to better understand, reflect and manage such disparities within future global environmental research and policy agendas for bridging the gap between ecology and economy as well as between societies. The book is based upon the results of a scientific symposium on this topic and covers the following sections: Cross Cultural Perception of Environment; Ethics and Nature; Environment, Sustainability and Society. Corresponding contributions were made by well-known scientific authors representing different cultural spheres in accordance with the inter-cultural approach of this effort.

It is only in recent decades that psychology as an academic discipline has begun to recognize the importance of a cultural perspective. From cross-cultural psychology through to psychological anthropology, psychologists have taken a number of approaches to studying the role of culture in human behavior. This comprehensive workbook is designed to facilitate students’ understanding and application of major concepts and principles of culture and psychology. The fully updated new edition features over 100 case studies, self-administered scales, mini-experiments, and library research projects, addressing topics such as culture, race/ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, and social class. Theoretical and guiding content is included in each chapter to embed the activities within key concepts and principles. In addition, the workbook is supported by a substantial Instructor’s Manual that includes discussion questions, video recommendations, variations by course level, and suggestions for expanded writing assignments. Designed to contribute to the inclusion of cultural perspectives in the psychology curriculum, this wide-ranging book provides students with hands-on experiences that facilitate the understanding and application of major concepts and principles in the study of culture and psychology.

The Concept of Milieu in Environmental Ethics discusses how we can come together to address current environmental problems at the planetary level, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, transborder pollution and desertification. The book recognises the embedded individual sociocultural and environmental contexts that impact our everyday choices. It asks, in this pluralism of worldviews, how can we build common ground to tackle environmental issues? What is our individual moral responsibility within the larger collaborative challenge? Through philosophical reasoning, this book pragmatically addresses these questions and builds a framework to support sustainable ways of living. At the core of the book, it draws on the concept of milieu (fūdo) inspired by the Japanese philosopher Watsuji Tetsurō, which captures how we act within and perceive our surroundings as a web of culturally, historically and geographically situated meanings and values. It argues that the milieu connects us as individuals with community, past and future history, and the natural world, providing us with common ground for global environmental ethics. This book will be an engaging and interesting read for scholars, researchers and students in environmental ethics, philosophy and sustainability.

Chinese ecoaesthetics, which originated in 1994, has developed theoretically over the last 30 years. This branch of aesthetics, which is "based on ecology" and to "transform aesthetically towards the era of ecological civilization," uses ecological realism as its philosophical foundation and ecohumanism as its guiding principles. Its central aesthetic paradigm is known as the "body-mind-environment" model. Its main research object is "...ecological aesthetic appreciation," an exploration of how to appreciate aesthetics and ecology through "ecological beauty." Additionally, ecohumanism can be further improved by referring to principles of ecology and examining the aesthetic synergies between humans and the earth's ecosystem. Ultimately, ecohumanism is not only a method to aid in survival in an ecological crisis, but to elevate the human condition through assuming ecological responsibilities and promoting ecological civilization, leading to a more valuable and meaningful life. The theme of this book, Ecosophy C, can be summarized as "Moving toward the Aesthetics of Eternal Engendering". Its key phrase, "Creating life" corresponds to shengsheng (生生) in Chinese, literally implying a continuous cycle of reproduction. Philosophically, this concept translates to "eternal engendering". In essence, ecoaesthetics is the pursuit of the endless cycling of bio-engendering, which is the main goal of ecoaesthetics. "Cheng Xiangzhan is outstanding among Chinese environmental aestheticians in joining classical and contemporary Western environmental aesthetics with his original contributions to the more recent work by Chinese scholars. Cheng’s creative and integrative accomplishments are supported by a remarkable facility in English and reflected in his original and systematic consideration of the outstanding issues. While much can be debated, there is substantial material here, and this book makes a signal contribution to carrying the discussion forward." - Arnold Berleant, distinguished environmental aesthetician. His latest book, The Social Aesthetics of Human Environments, will appear in September 2023. Contents SECTION I - BASIC ISSUES IN ECOAESTHETICS CHAPTER 1. Ecohumanism and the Construction of Ecoaesthetics in China CHAPTER 2. The Four Keystones of Ecological Aesthetic Appreciation CHAPTER 3. An Ecoaesthetic Reflection on the Hazy Weather: The Naturalization of Nature CHAPTER 4. Ecological Civilization and Ecological Aesthetics in China SECTION Ⅱ - ECOLOGICAL AESTHETIC APPRECIATION AND ECOSOPHY C CHAPTER 5. Aesthetic Engagement, Ecosophy C, and Ecological Appreciation CHAPTER 7. The Archetype of Chinese Aesthetic Activity and a Construction of Everyday Aesthetics CHAPTER 8. Creating with Nature: Ecosophy C as an Ecological Rationality for Healing the Earth Community SECTION Ⅲ - ECOAESTHETICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL AESTHETICS CHAPTER 9. Arnold Berleant’s Environmental Aesthetics and Chinese Ecological Aesthetics CHAPTER 10. Some Critical Reflections on Berleantian Critique of Kantian Aesthetics from the Perspective of Ecoaesthetics CHAPTER 11. Critical Reflection on Arnold Berleant’s Ideas on Ecological Aesthetics SECTION Ⅳ - ECOAESTHETICS’ APPLICATION CHAPTER 12. Ecoaesthetics and Ecocriticism CHAPTER 13. Contribution of Ecological Aesthetics to Urban Planning CHAPTER 14. Urban Image and Urban Aesthetics: Urban Aesthetics in Cross-Cultural Perspective

Introduction -- "Fear of a black planet" : ecotopia and eugenics in climate narratives -- Ghosts and reparations -- Mapping and memory -- "Bodies tell stories" : mourning and hospitality after Katrina -- Round dance and resistance -- "Slow insurrection" : dissent, collective voice, and social care -- Cannibal spirits and sacred seeds -- Epilogue: "Everyday micro-utopias".

Indian ecocriticism has not yet adequately demonstrated the applicability of ecological/deep ecological/tinai principles to visual texts. Culture and Media: Ecocritical Explorations closes this gap at the most opportune moment. Though this volume accommodates ecologically oriented interpretations from several cultures across the world, it reserves the centre stage for Indian ecocriticism and ecotheory quite appropriately. The volume effectively challenges the major documents on ecocriticism and theory (published by international presses), which have been reluctant to give space to tinai criticism and theory that transcend Dravidian or Tamil boundaries. The day is not far when cinema of the world, shaped by tinai theory, will employ tinai hermeneutics to gain fresh insight, which, in turn, will feed into the processes of creation and production of relevant and great movies.

Leading environmental thinkers investigate the complexities of boundary formation and negotiation at the heart of environmental problems.