Environmental Ethics & China

Daoism and ecofeminism, though originating from different cultural and philosophical backgrounds, share a common thread: a deep reverence for nature and a commitment to living in harmony with the environment. In this post, we will delve into the intriguing connection between Daoism and ecofeminism, and their convergence into Daoist ecofeminism.  DAOISM Daoism, a centuries-old Chinese philosophy, emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with nature. According to Daoism, because everything in the universe is interconnected, humans should strive to coexist harmoniously with nature. Daoism teaches that humans should respect the environment and work to preserve it for future generations. This philosophy has been influential in shaping Chinese culture and environmental thought. Daoism's foundational text, Dao De Jing (道德经), says, "respect the world as yourself... love the world as yourself." This quote emphasizes a mindset of reverence towards nature rather than dominance...

 Though National Parks have been around in the United States for over a century, National Parks in China are a recent phenomenon of this past decade. A proposal to establish a national parks system in China was first released in 2013 at the 3rd Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (中国共产党第十八届中央委员会第三次全体会议). In 2017, rapid construction began, and the establishment of a national park system was approved in July 2017.  President Xi Jinping officially declared the first group of officially designated national parks, five in total, in October 2021 at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15, 生物多样性公约缔约方大会第十五次会议). China's national parks attempt to balance two central park purposes: recreation and enjoyment for visitors and protection of ecosystems. These five national parks currently cover a total area of ~230,000 square kilometers, though China plans to expand its national park system to ...

China has a rich history of ecological thought, shaped by its unique geography, culture, and political systems. As the world's worst polluter (fossil fuel emissions are twice that of the USA), China must make significant strides towards sustainable development. In order to do so, China should center ecocentric and biocentric thought as a means of achieving sustainable development.  Though technically an atheist state, Confucianism is a significant philosophy (considered religious in some spheres) subscribed to in China. By incorporating more ecocentric teachings, Confucian is emerging as a force for a greener China.  Confucianism, historically, is seen to be quite anthropocentric, as it focuses mainly on human relationships and social harmony. However, if we look closer into the teachings of Confucianism, we find ecocentric and biocentric threads.  A main tenant of Confucianism is the balance and harmony between humanity, heaven, and earth. Ancient Confucian philosopher D...