The one discipline that, sad to say, has hitherto remained virtually untouched by any concern for the environment or the human-to-nature relationship is psychology. You will search in vain in the texts and journals of any of the major schools of psychology—clinical, behaviorist, cognitive, physiological, humanistic or transpersonal—for any theory or research concerning the most basic fact of human existence: the fact of our relationship to the natural world of which we are a part.
Any thoughts on whether your relationship with nature is or should be a genuine concern?

You've got a point. I generally assume this is because in most places of the world it is usually so easy to live. One does not confront nature. In northern countries, we do every winter. We have to. In many cites however, you do not. Even in harsh weather we can always duck into a heated or AC-ridden building.

Perhaps we really don't *need* nature. We can survive without?

Google under ecopsychology.

We can survive without?

No, we can't.
I wouldn't want to either adn it scares me how many people think that we somehow can.

The one discipline that, sad to say, has hitherto remained virtually untouched by any concern for the environment or the human-to-nature relationship is psychology.


I think this is because ever since Descartes the mind has been considered something completely separate from the world (nature). It was really Descartes who proved using logic that we exist as individuals - "I think therefore I am" - and hence removed any need to reference the 'external world'. Descartes believed that animals were soulless machines that could not think or feel.

The individual is the foundation of psychology (and Western civilisation) and therefore only depends upon Descartes observation to maintain itself.

I think this is because ever since Descartes the mind has been considered something completely separate from the world (nature). It was really Descartes who proved using logic that we exist as individuals - "I think therefore I am" - and hence removed any need to reference the 'external world'. Descartes believed that animals were soulless machines that could not think or feel.

The individual is the foundation of psychology (and Western civilisation) and therefore only depends upon Descartes observation to maintain itself.

I think his revelations were needed, but are not valid in many, many ways. For instance, we are not completely seperate. We cannot survive without our environment. And we are always at the mercy of nature. Nature does not change for us, so we must change for nature.

I think it is western psychology's addiction to Descartes 'observation' that causes so many conflicts with nature and the rest of the world.

I think his revelations were needed, but are not valid in many, many ways. For instance, we are not completely seperate. We cannot survive without our environment. And we are always at the mercy of nature. Nature does not change for us, so we must change for nature.

I think it is western psychology's addiction to Descartes 'observation' that causes so many conflicts with nature and the rest of the world.

Roy,

I agree with you.

Descartes work certainly came as a revelation to thinkers who felt imprisoned by the dogmatic reflexes of the Christian Church. However, non-European cultures such as the American Indian, Aboriginal and African have always sought to change the world by first changing themselves through elaborate ceremony and ritual. This has maintained their equilibrium with and respect for nature.

I believe Western psychology is a dangerous discipline which maintains the Descartian split between feeling (the body) and thought (the mind). As you quite rightly suggest this has resulted in unnecessary suffering in all the cultures the West has come into contact with.

I’ve been working on Ecopsychology and closely associated with “Institute of Global Education” special NGO consultant to the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Their site is ecopsych com The web site provides a great deal of information about human ecology and the organic application of ecopsychology and ecotherapy.

I've encountered alot on the human-nature relationship when taking a course entitled 'Environmental Psychology'. There are a good 3 or 4 chapers in the coures textbook that devote time to explaining what makes nature so special to human beings, nature as a means to release accumlating stress, and the human behaviours required to help the natural environment.