Domination of NatureMcGill-Queen's Press - MQUP, 1994 - 242 páginas The last three decades have seen increasing concern over ecology and environmental problems. Scientists, social thinkers, public officials, and the public have been aroused by the recognition that failure to understand the destructive impact of industrial society and advanced technologies on the delicate balance of organic life in the global ecosystem may result in devastating problems for future generations. William Leiss argues that this global predicament must be understood in terms of deeply rooted attitudes towards nature. He traces the origins, development, and social consequences of an idea whose imprint is everywhere in modern thought: the idea of the domination of nature. In Part One Leiss traces the idea of the domination of nature from the Renaissance to the nineteenth century. Francis Bacon's seminal work provides the pivotal point for this discussion and, through an original interpretation of Bacon's thought, Leiss shows how momentous ambiguities in the idea were incorporated into modern thought. By the beginning of the twentieth century the concept had become firmly identified with scientific and technological progress. This fact defines the task of Part Two. Using important contributions by European sociologists and philosophers, Leiss critically analyses the role of science and technology in the modern world. In the concluding chapter he puts the idea of mastery over nature into historical perspective and explores a new approach, based on the possibilities of the "liberation of nature." Originally published in 1972, The Domination of Nature was part of the first wave of widespread interest in environmental issues. These issues have reemerged in many industrialized countries, reinforced by planetary dynamics such as threats of global warming (or cooling) and ozone depletion. In an extensive new preface Leiss explains why his study is as relevant as ever. |
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abstract achieved activity alchemy Alexandre Koyré aspects Atlantis attempt attitude become behavior capitalism capitalist civilization concept of mastery conquest of nature contemporary context crisis cultural Descartes domination of nature domination over nature dynamic earth economic essay ethical example external nature forces Francis Bacon Herrschaftswissen historical Horkheimer human Husserl idea of mastery ideology individual industrial intellectual labor liberation life-world magic man's Marcuse Marcuse's Marx Marxism mastery of nature mastery over nature mathematical matter Max Horkheimer Max Scheler means modern science natural environment natural philosophy natural sciences notion objective One-Dimensional Paolo Rossi philosophy political positive sciences possible power over nature practical present problem production reason relation relationship religion religious Renaissance represented result Scheler science and technology scientific and technological scientific knowledge seventeenth century social conflict specific structure struggle techniques technological progress technological rationality theoretical theory thought tion tradition transformation understanding University Press Utopia