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Deep Ecology: A Philosophical and Ethical Reconsideration

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Philosophy, Nagar College, Murshidabad, India

Res. J. Language and Literature Sci., Volume 12, Issue (3), Pages 7-10, June,19 (2025)

Abstract

‘Deep Ecology’ is a progressive and radical environmental philosophy that evaluates the intrinsic value of life and the interrelationship between human society and nature from a renewed perspective. Initiated in the 1970s by Norwegian philosopher Arne Næss (1973), this philosophy later evolved into the ‘Deep Ecology Movement’. The central claim of this philosophy is that—just like human life—other living beings and nature possess their own intrinsic worth and existence, which is not solely determined by human needs. This research paper analyzes the fundamental framework of Deep Ecology. The research sheds light on Biocentrism and Ecocentrism as the philosophical foundations of Deep Ecology, which place equal moral consideration on objects and living beings at the core of environmental ethics. The ethical propositions of Deep Ecology—such as its opposition to consumerist culture, the principle of equitable use of limited resources, the conservation of biodiversity, and the maintenance of ecological balance—highlight its moral and contemporary significance. However, the study also addresses several limitations and criticisms of this philosophy. In the concluding section of the paper, the relevance of Deep Ecology has been reassessed in light of the current global context—marked by climate change, depletion of natural resources, and the collapse of ecosystems. The analysis explores how this philosophy can provide a moral and philosophical foundation for developing a just, inclusive, and sustainable environmental policy in the twenty-first century.

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