Deep Ecology

Deep ecology is an alternative philosophy also called ecophilosophy as well as a campaign platform. As ecophilosophy, deep ecology is a fundamental approach to environmental problems and focuses on underlying causes, the roots of problems. It assumes a relational, total-field perspective that fits into a holistic, nonreductionist, nonanthropocentric worldview. It is in contrast to shallow ecology, which represents the technocratic attitude to pollution and resource depletion. Shallow ecology uses rules such as “the polluter pays” and assumes that treating the symptoms through technological quick fixes will reduce the ecological footprint. According to deep ecology, we have to change the basic ideological structure, which ultimately means changing ourselves.