Conclusion

Abstract

The critical spirit of this essay is not one which seeks to establish the claim that all is well with ecology and that any expression of concern about environmental matters is an unfounded, alarmist outcry. It does not deny that grave ecological problems exist nor does it suggest that our attention should focus away from ecology to more critical issues as do some critics of the ecological movement.’ The objective of this essay rather, is triple: (a) to examine how each theory specifies its object, ecology, (b) to identify the underlying premises of each theory in its role as basic determinant of internal logic of the theory, (c) to assess each theory as a theory of explanation and a theory of political action. Rather than assuming that ecology merits little concern, this triple objective implies that it is of such critical importance that it is incumbent upon us to understand the sense which these various theories make of ecology and the sense of their call to political action. To understand this is not to dismiss ecology as an issue, although it may involve rejecting some of these theories or parts of these theories as a programme for resolution of social contradictions of which the ecological issue is an effect. Before we begin considering this last point which must be the central question of this chapter, let us assess each of the theories against each part of this triple.