Nested Ecology: The Place of Humans in the Ecological Hierarchy

Foreword

vii Foreword .................................................................................................................................... Scientists in all fields are now relying increasingly on images of the world as a complex emergent system ‘‘nesting’’ multiple subsystems . Nature consists of communities within communities. It is hard for any finite mind to hold all the levels together simultaneously, but in the intellectual world, and in culture at large, holistic pictures of a dynamic, evolutionary, and richly layered universe are slowly and irreversibly replacing the more mechanistic, static, vertical, and linear models that have been foundational to modern thought. One might assume, therefore, that environmental studies would, of all fields, be the most enthusiastic about new depictions of nature in terms of the nesting model. In a sense this assumption is well founded, but rarely is an environmental thinker or ecologist sufficiently sensitive to all the dimensions that a truly integral vision of nature requires. Most environmental writers defend one level at the expense of others, and of course one can always learn much from these biased perspectives. But after reading the works of even the most skilled ecological scientists, ethicists, and philosophers , the impression usually still remains that something important has been left out. No matter how broadminded an ecologist’s or environmentalist ’s intentions may be, readers will find that some level—whether physical , personal, social, biological, cosmic, or spiritual—has been slighted. Terry Wimberley, however, is exceptionally aware of this almost inevitable shortcoming of ecological writing and rhetoric. His wise, readable, and convincing book awakens us to spheres of concern that even the most sensitive ecological treatises have often ignored or underemphasized. He has in mind a much more integral and nuanced ecological vision than is customary. Readers of many backgrounds and interests will find herein a viii FOREWORD carefully coordinated range of reflections on the multiple nesting and nested levels that make up the universe. Wimberley’s sophisticated study of the plurality of ecological strata challenges us to develop a wider ecological awareness than even some of the most celebrated ecological visionaries have provided. This work demonstrates persuasively, though without having to resort to homiletics, that ecological thought and ethics can be considerably enriched by taking into account the insights of psychologists, economists, politicians, sociologists, cosmologists, philosophers, and even religious thinkers. Especially satisfying, at least to me, is the author’s realization that a deeply influential ecological ethic cannot take root apart from considering the importance of a ‘‘personal’’ ecology at one pole of the environmental spectrum and an ‘‘ecology of the unknown’’ at the other. For many persons only the sense of an ultimate environment, a dimension of endless mystery, can truly enliven and sustain their personal hope that nature still has a future. It now seems most inappropriate, therefore, for environmental ethicists to ignore the intuition so many people have that the empirically available world is ‘‘nested’’ finally by an inexhaustible depth of being, value, futurity, truth, and beauty. Ethical incentive can flourish most naturally and spontaneously when persons understand that their actions and attitudes have a bearing not only on the physical, social, biological, and cosmic spheres of being but even on the ultimate environment in which they live and move and have their being. I am optimistic that readers of this fine book will find their own vision of the world and its promise expanding with each chapter. John F. Haught, Ph.D. Senior Fellow, Science & Religion Woodstock Theological Center Georgetown University ...