Selection 6 summary

Lynn White Jr.'s article The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis provides connections between historical western ideals and our exploitation of the environment. human activities have always effected nature. Actions such as introduction of alien invasive species, new agricultural and hunting methods and construction of boats and dams have all had lead to ecological . Humans have always been a agent of change in nature but we do not to what extent. Starting in the 1850s the idea that science meant technological power spread, sent the human impact skyrocketing. Western technology was originally influenced by Chinese and Islamic science. But it is now western science and its ideals that is predominant throughout the world today. Western Science was born in the middle ages so this is where it gained its characteristics. Since middle age Europe was predominately christian, the religion had a great impact on the sciences. The christian way of thinking is that environment is there to supply the needs of people. This is the attitude that western science took. So unless we adopt a new way of thinking we will continue to exploit nature causing worsening ecological crisis's.