GEO 702 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Exponential Growth, Henry David Thoreau, Anthropocentrism
Document Summary
The idea that human actions can adversely affect the environments was not invented by al gore. There are remnants in all of us form the ideas of the past. These ideas carry with them consequences for the system. These illustrations apply to western" society- though all societies are dependent on their past- and on their relationships with other societies. Main concern of the society is survival, you want to have food and survive for your children. Native groups are in harmony with the environment because they treat the environment as an equal and they did have the materials (technology) to harm the environment. Humans have problems trying to figure out what the impact is. Older societies- survival dictates using the environment- in ways influences by the limits of technology. Little perceived damage: no records of base environment and resources, lower human population numbers, more primitive, localized technologies. Exploitation of the system is normal : survival is important.
