Quinn and Bodian/Naess

Quinn and Bodian/Naess GNED 102 Dr. Fike

Daniel Quinn • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Quinn • He is a freelance writer. • He is very concerned with environmental issues, including overpopulation and the extinction of 200 species per day.

The Big Bang • In physical cosmology, the Big Bang is the scientifictheory that the universe emerged from a tremendously dense and hot state about 13.7 billion years ago. The theory is based on the observations indicating the expansion of space in accord with the Robertson-Walker model of general relativity, as indicated by the Hubbleredshift of distantgalaxies taken together with the cosmological principle.” Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bang

The Steady State Theory • “The steady state theory asserts that although the universe is expanding, it nevertheless does not change its look over time (the perfect cosmological principle); it has no beginning and no end. • “The steady state theory requires that new matter must be continuously created (mostly as hydrogen) to keep the average density of matter equal over time.” Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steady_state_theory

Write in Your Notebooks • Complete the following homology: The gorilla Ishmael is to _________ as the human is to _________. • What answers did you come up with?

Questions about Quinn’s Text • What points is Ishmael making about myth in connection with evolution and creationism? • What is his definition of myth? • He is using myth to make a point about human beings' relationship to the natural environment. What is that point? • Write your definition and your answer in your notebook. (See Q on next slide.)

A Valid Reader Response? • "Oh, so Quinn is saying that evolution is a myth. Therefore, he is saying that evolution didn't really happen." • Evaluate this statement. Do you agree or disagree with it? How do you know that you are right? Note: We are NOT going to debate evolution vs. creationism or intelligent design in this class. Believe whatever you want. I am simply asking you to understand Quinn's take on these issues.

“Mother Culture” • Quinn makes a powerful point when he has Ishmael mention the problem of “listening to Mother Culture” and that “Mother Culture has crooned you to sleep” (202, left column). • As regards the environment, what exactly does it mean to listen to the voice of culture? In what ways do you listen to your cultural Mother?

Definitions? • What does Ishmael mean by "the Takers" the "the Leavers“ (204-05)? • To whom is he referring in each case? • What point do you think that Ishmael is trying to teach his human interlocutor? • Do you think that the gorilla is right to take this position?

Ishmael’s Name • What is the significance of the fact that the gorilla's name is Ishmael?

Answers • Ishmael is the son of Abraham by Sarah’s maidservant, Hagar. • “The word Yishm'e'l existed in various ancient Semitic cultures. It literally meaning ‘God has hearkened’ [or ‘God will hear’], suggesting that ‘a child so named was regarded as the fulfillment of a divine promise’” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishmael).

More on Ishmael • Genesis 21:8-10 (RSV): “And the child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, ‘Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.’” • Genesis 21:20: “And God was with the lad, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert with the bow. He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.”

Arne Naess • Top Norwegian philosopher of the 20th century. • Næss cited Rachel Carson's 1962 book Silent Spring as being a key influence in his vision of deep ecology. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arne_N%C3%A6ss

Naess’s Thesis? • If you were asked to identify one sentence as Naess's thesis, which one would you select? Which sentence best encapsulates his main point?

Bodian/Naess: Terminology • Group work for 10 minutes: Get with 3-4 others and find (or construct) definitions of the following terms. Also, try to put them together into a summary of what Naess advocates. • Deep ecology (208-09) • Shallow ecology (209) • Shallow ecology:________::deep ecology:________. • Conservation (209) • Ecosophy (208) • Paradigm shift (208) • Self-realization (209) • The Self vs. the ego (209-10) • Tao (209)

Deep Ecology • Deep ecology is a recent branch of ecological philosophy (ecosophy) that considers humankind as an integral part of its environment. It places more value on other species, ecosystems and processes in nature than is allowed by established environmental and green movements, and therefore leads to a new system of environmental ethics. The core principle of deep ecology as originally developed is Naess's doctrine of biospheric egalitarianism— the claim that all living things have the same right to live and flourish — a principle which, after criticism, has been substantially qualified (see Naess 1989). Deep ecology describes itself as "deep" because it is concerned with fundamental philosophical questions about the role of human life as one part of the ecosphere, rather than with a narrow view of ecology as a branch of biological science, and aims to avoid merely utilitarian environmentalism. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_ecology

Tao • “Tao” is a Chinese character “often translated as ‘Way’ or ‘Path.’ In ancient China Tao gained a special currency referring to the Way of Nature or Heaven. This Great Way was considered the source of the order that could be seen in Nature and the Cosmos. The concept of the Tao and its relationship to yin and yang heavily influenced Chinese philosophy and continues to this day.” Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao

Large-group Discussion on Consumerism • Do you agree that "instead of an energy crisis, we have a crisis of consumption“ (208)? • What point does Naess make about Rachel Carson (210)? You should look back and see what Swimme says about her on page 113. • If Naess and Swimme and Marx were having a conversation, what opinions would they share or not share? • What values do you believe should govern your individual life and the life of American society?

Clouds Talk? • How do clouds talk to us (207)? Does this strike you as a dumb thing for Naess to say? Is it a metaphor? Do you understand it in some other way?

Alternatives • Are we limited only to the two options that Naess mentions on page 209: "A 'smooth' way, involving harmonious living with nature, or a 'rough' way, involving a dictatorship and coercion"?

Final Question • Answer this question on page 208: "'In what situations do I experience the maximum satisfaction of my whole being?'" • Write your answer in your notebook. END

Quinn and Bodian/Naess