The environmental crisis

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32536, 20 February 1971, Page 10

The environmental crisis

(Reviewed by G.D.) The Ecological Conscience: Values for Survival. Edited by Robert Disch. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, U.S.A. 206 pp. We have come to view everything about ecology, pollution and conservation with close attention. This compilation of writings by outstanding American thinkers on the environmental crisis will certainly attract such attention. Unfortunately, the text is rather too serious and, once attracted, many readers may soon find their interest flagging. They may have even great difficulty in understanding some of the subject matter. The editor, Robert Disch relieves the problem to a certain extent by his preface and the thoughtful summary essays which begin the book’s several parts. But it is heavy weather all the way. A notable exception, however, is the article "Land of Ecology” containing the sharp, ironical observations of Jon Margolis on the effectiveness of conservation movements in a political system dominated by capitalist economics. The book begins with a vivid poem on pollution by Allen Ginsberg and concludes with pleas for the cosmic consciousness and poetic simplicity essential for man to survive and control his technological revolution. There are, in all, 16 articles, each previously published elsewhere, grouped by the editor into four themes. In “The Ecological Crisis” Barry Commoner states the ecological facts of life. Part 2 on “The Ecological Conscience” includes some beautiful prose by lan McHarg on values, processes and form in ecology and landscape design. The theologian, Thomas Merton writes On conservation and the value of wild places and Aldo Leopold’s famous essay on the conservation ethic is also there. Articles in Part 3 relate to the impact of ecological values on science and technology. Slobodkin considers the future of ecology, and Lewis Mumford poses some pertinent questions on the fitness of future environments for Man’s conscious development. The question “Can Technology be Humane” is answered by Paul Goodwin, while Commoner discusses Man’s survival on planet earth. Relationships between ecology, social institutions and politics are explored by Frank Potter, Jon Margolis, and Barry Weisburg. In a final section on metaphysics of ecology, Buckminster Fuller expands his marvellous "space-ship earth” analogy and Gary Snyder writes on poetty and the primitive state of "being at one with nature.” There is no index and the book ends with an excellent list of suggested readings by which a person might increase his understanding.

Robert Disch makes the reasonable assumption that international complexities of the environmental crisis together constitute the most serious problem facing mankind. The common thread in all the articles chosen is the belief that an ecological as well as moral conscience must guide all Man’s future actions, be they personal, community, political, national, international or interplanetary. We must be able to see in our lifetime that technology is used accordingly to the rules of a greater realm if man, other animals and plants are to survive many centuries on earth. Disch seems convinced that a new form of liberal socialism is the only political system with any hope of achieving this goal. The tragedy about books such as this is that they are usually read and understood only by those already convinced. The people for whom the bell tolls are politicians, technologists, polluters and the unsuspecting public. This book will have little appeal for the pragmatic minds of such human beings. Consequently, its message must be kept and carried by the minority of idealistic men of spirit and wisdom.