Philosophies of Environmental Education and Democracy

Abstract

An important step toward preserving the natural world is for people to adopt an ethical framework that facilitates such an effort. This is the view of this book. The problems seem to stem from difficulties Alexis de Tocqueville observed about American democracy. He warned that attitudes of materialism, individualism, and conformity could destroy the values people sought, and they encouraged people to abuse the environment. Three philosophers of education, William Torrey Harris, John Dewey, and Gregory Bateson, suggested ways to construct a set of ethics that would offset those flaws. ■ The conclusion shows that the best environmental education takes place when teachers seek to expand students’ understanding of the world. There are a range of practical solutions for environmental destruction. They include ending capitalism, creating more parks, or blocking further immigration. Unfortunately, each of these suggestions would increase the abuse of the environment. Unless the tendencies for individualism, materialism, and conformity diminish, the environmental problems will escalate.