Ecofeminism: A Modern Moral Theory
The oppression has been an issue that has affected human life for a very long time. Man has always seen himself as separate from nature. Nature is not something he is a part of, but a resource that he can do whatever he wants with. The plants are for use to eat, the forests are a source of lumber for us to build with, air is for us to breathe and pollute, and the animals are to be our slaves and our meat. This is nature has always been thought of to man. Only know are we seeing this to be untrue. Social Ecology has brought to light the dangers of thinking of nature as something we own and therefore can do whatever we want with. The extinction of species from the planet, the melting of the polar ice caps, and the pollution of waters all around the world are finally making us realize this to be true. If we continue to use nature simply as a resource and don't find a way to peacefully co-exist with it, we will destroy it, and in turn destroy ourselves. A tragedy that has affected our social lives, as much as pollution has affected our ecological lives, is the oppression of women. Women have been oppressed in western society for as long as it has existed. Like nature, they too exist for man and not with him. Up until recently it w
If humans are only a part of nature as a whole, we should not take only human happiness into account when determining right and wrong. For example, an ecofeminist might state that an action is right in proportion, as they tend to promote positive effects in nature and social equality, and wrong as they tend to produce negative effects in nature and social equality. It states that people take direct action to effect changes that are immediate and personal as well as long term and structural. Under King's moral view destroying the bird species to put up the movie theatre would be wrong. Looking at both moral theories, it is obvious that Utilitarianism is a much more selfish and unrealistic view on what is right and wrong. Mill defines happiness as pleasure and the absence of pain. By doing so we will ensure that we continue to thrive as well. Under this moral view, cutting down a large area of forest where an entire species of bird lives to put up a movie theatre that will make an entire community happy is right. Since we owe our existence to the same ecosystems and planet that supports them, they are not something we should consider as a mere resource. Ynestra King's theory is radically different than any other kind of moral theory. The Civil Rights Movements of the past century have changed that significantly. We must act in a way that will ensure nature continues to thrive as it has for millions of years. If we follow her theory, it should be said that since humans are natural beings, or a part of nature, we as a species are no more important than the other animals that exist within it. This is a very different stance on morality than Mill's because it takes into account the effects on all of nature and society instead of just the happiness of the people. By doing this we will help all of mankind because it will produce a society that celebrates all life.
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