World of Philosophy

Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan

Page 585

Secularization of Man and the Ecological Crisis
- Dr. S.G.Nigal Introduction
For centuries, man has been trying to understand himself and the universe in which he lives and by which he is sustained. For the sake of the gratification of the biological needs such as hunger and thirst, the Homo sapiens have to depend upon Nature. Of course it has not been always easy for man to satisfy his bodily or physiological wants. So man had to struggle for his existence. He had to strive for food and shelter. This involved resistance to some environmental factors such as famine, epidemics, earthquakes, floods, wild animals, etc. Many a time the human race had to adjust itself to Nature. But man, being rational and inquisitive, has been making attempts to understand the natural world and the laws governing the natural phenomena in order to control them. To put it more frankly and bluntly, man has been trying to conquer Nature. The scientific knowledge of various natural facts and events was applied to satisfy man's major ambition to be the conqueror and the master of the external nature. Aided by science and technology, this desire to conquer outer nature was immensely whetted. As a result of this, man has totally forgotten the factual truth that Nature is indispensable, that he himself is in Nature, and even today he badly needs it.
Ecology
Nowadays we talk of ecological imbalance or disequilibrium. So we come across slogans and phrases such as conservation of nature, save the planet, conservation from oil to soil, planetary planning, preserve wild life, grow more plants, trees for life, quest for survival, speaking for nature, etc. These words of warning and wisdom suggest that man reflects upon his own achievements and failures. He reviews what he has done to the environment and biosphere. This human attack on the natural environment is sometimes referred to as 'ecological rape'. Hence the rightful concern for ecological problems. There is a special portfolio called Ministry for Environment in the Central Government of India. Likewise, we also come across posters even at countryside with messages like "Grow more trees and get released'. This paper is mainly concerned with the modern Western thought, its logical implications and practical consequences on the minds of the people and thereby on the ecological factors such as water, air, soil, and other natural resources. Ecology is the scientific study of the interrelationship between organisms and the natural environment. So we have human ecology that deals with the interrelationship between man and the environment. Presently, there is intense
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