Enlightened Self-Interest: In Search of the Ecological Self (A Synthesis of Stoicism and Ecosophy)
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2010-07
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Abstract
Neass’ Ecosophy and the Stoic attitude towards environmental ethics are often believed to be incompatible primarily because the first is often understood as championing an ecocentric standpoint while the latter espouses an egocentric (as well as an anthropocentric) view. This essay, however, argues that such incompatibility is rooted in a misunderstanding of both Ecosophy and Stoicism. Moreover, the essay argues that a synthesis of both the Ecosophical and Stoic approaches to environmental concerns results in a robust and satisfying attitude toward the environment, namely an enlightened self-interest, which not only guards our fragile environment from abuse, but also provides self-interested reasons and motivations for the protection of our natural surroundings.
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Citation
Lenart, B. (2010). Enlightened self-interest: In search of the ecological self (a synthesis of stoicism and ecosophy). "Praxis", 2(2), 26-44.