Environmentalism: two fundamental stances

One stance: Fundamentally one of humulity. Staring out at the world, self-forgetful, asorbed in contemplation of beauty. You might call this "conservation" -- a practical stance, interested in conserving what already exists. Another stance: One that sees the world, as it were, "objectively" -- as an object, especially an object of manipulation. You never place yourself within the context of the world you see -- you always remain "other", even, or especially, from other men.

Partus Primus: definitiones

"environmentalism", n.

#2. advocacy of the preservation, restoration, or improvement of the natural environment; especially : the movement to control pollution [source]

"Environmentalism" connotes many things; but chiefly we can say that an "environmental" person is one that wishes to see "Nature" preserved and protected against perilously premature putrefaction by other people.

"nature", n.

the physical world and everything in it (such as plants, animals, mountains, oceans, stars, etc.) that is not made by people [source]

We shall take "Environmentalism", then, to mean "That which seeks to preserve Things-That-Are-Not-People against the meddlings of People".

Partus Secundus: distinctiones

What follows here is not originally deduced from a priori principles. Rather, it is sensed or intuited experientially; and only later justified by reason.

At the root of every human occupation there is a choice, which in turn informs how you engage in the occupation. This choice is between one of Humility and Pride. So it is with Environmentalism: one may engage in Environmental activities from one of these two perspectives. This is not to deny that both may be at work within the same individual, at different levels; but one will always be his radical motivation.

Consider: that man is humble who looks primarily to other things. His "locus of attention" is primarily on the Outside; he is in a permanent state of self-forgetfulness. What is most important to him is that Things Are. He desires to "get his head into the heavens".

Contrast with this the proud man. He desires to be important — that is, to be isolated. He himself is the only Subject; all others are Objects to him. His primary self-regard causes him to keep things at "arms length"; he avoids entanglements.

Partus Tertius: explorationes

The Humble Environmentalist looks out upon a world of Beauty. He sees things everywhere — trees, mountains, gophers, zooplankton — as worthwhile, valuable, important in themselves. He sees himself in the context of this world; more to the point, he sees other human beings in this world.

The Proud Environmentalist is not immune to the beauty of natural things - he would hardly self-identify as such otherwise! But his failing is precisely this: that he, in some way, stands aloof from the world he sees. He relates to things as objects of manipulation - and especially other human beings.