Animism and ecology: Participating in the world community

Graham Harvey

The Ecological Citizen Vol 3 No 1 2019: 79–84

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First published: 1 July 2019 | PERMANENT URL | DOWNLOAD CITATION IN RIS FORMAT

Abstract

Ecological disaster requires urgent thinking and other actions in adjusting human engagement with the larger-than-human community. Animism has been proposed as one form of relationship that might be productive. This article outlines distinct uses of the term 'animism' in order to point to the 'new animism' as a label for ways of relating respectfully with other species. It then considers the relations of these forms of animism with conservation and other ecological approaches. It supports a de-centring of humanity but encourages care about putting anything else in the centre.

Keywords

Anthropocentrism, Environmental humanities, Human-nature dualism, Religion, Worldviews