Critique And Construction:Research On Ecological Thoughts Of Constructive Postmodernism

On the surface,the intensifying global ecological crisis is the immediate consequence of expansion of western industrial production mode around the world,especially rapid development in some developing countries.From the perspective of philosophy,however,profound ideological and cultural origin and metaphysical foundation are in the rear of the crisis.In a sense,it could even be concluded that the ecological crisis for the moment is nothing but the actual representation of western culture and ideology.As matter of fact,the reflection and caution towards western cultural crisis started in the 19 century,and disavowal and criticism to the modern civilization leading by the western world has never stopped since 20 century,all of which can be clearly evidenced by the critical attitude towards "scientific rationality",Spengler’s common on"the decline of the west",Heidegger’s appeal ing to "poetic dwel ling",and Marx Weber’s judgment of "the disenchantment of the world".However,it is the ideologists from "the radical post-modernism",represented by Foucault,Derrida,Lyotard,which has received strongest reactions in the tide of reflection and criticism from western thoughts themselves.Behind their mild and pedantic methodology of "archaeology" and"pragmatics" laid the "grand narrative" that aimed at getting rid of all metaphysics.They wanted to destruct and overturn all the modern composition through the possibility of deconstruction of "decentralization" and"anti-foundation".A refutation of something is pleasant,but what’s next?Our smothery world is surrounded by the fragments of modernity and traditional culture,and a free world is needed.The simple thought is actually the primary impetus of the constructive postmodernism.It not only acknowledges deconstructive postmodernism’s criticism towards modern culture,but also depicts a optimistic and reliable prospect in the future,making all the ideologists of constructive postmodernism enjoying the characteristics of "criticism" and "construction".While Whitehead’s process philosophy provided a reference from their seemingly contradictory task,and the possible basis was the core of Whitehead’s ecological thought,namely,"holistic organic philosophy".The view of reconstitution world,centered by "ecology",has "criticism" and "constructivism" in itself.When the world is not seen as the eternal and mechanical accumulations,it is obviously a negation towards traditional metaphysics with its "criticism".When the world is regarded as a endless and ever-shifting process,the characteristic of"construction" is formed.The disexuality of constructive postmodernism,represented by Junior John B.Cobb and David Ray Griffin,had clearer vein.In a manner of speaking,the theoretical foundation of constructive postmodernism is "ecological" thought,which the settlement and interpretation of its thought lies highly upon.Hence,the theoretical foundation of this paper is centered on the ecological thought,and "criticism" and "construction" as complementary principal lines.As for "criticism",the ideologists of constructive postmodernism,during their reflections towards the current ecological crisis,have aimed their attack on anthropocentrism,mechanism,instrument rationality and utilitarianism,so as to lay a foundation for constructive ecological view of nature and new ecological civilization.When it comes to "construction",this paper thought the ideologists of constructive postmodernism have two dimensions:The first one,theoretical dimension,focuses on the natural concept of"non-disenchanted",and re-inspects ethics,theology,science and aesthetics from the perspective of ecology.The second,practical dimension,aims at transformation of ecology in the future,which has set forth the ecological practical ideas,including ecological economy,ecological agriculture,and ecological cities etc.,to provide a forward-looking path towards the construction of ecological civilization.This paper will introduce the constructive postmodernism in six chapters:Chapter one introduces why the author chooses the topic of constructive postmodernism,and the research status of constructive postmodernism home and abroad and the innovations of this paper.In chapter two,the author explains the severe situation of ecological crisis first.The constructive postmodernism attempts to collapse the theoretical foundation of modern "project" fundamentally through rationalism,while constructive postmodernism has a attitude of "sublation" towards modern society with its proposition mixed with approval and disavowal,criticism and construction.The third chapter concentrates on constructive postmodernism’s criticism towards modern philosophy.Ecologists of constructive postmodernism have reflected all kinds of drawbacks of modern society,and mainly critizes the mechanism,anthropocentrism,instrumental rationality and utilitarianism in the western modern society.The fourth chapter concentrates on the ecological theoretical dimensions of constructive postmodernism.The ecologists of constructive postmodernism,based on profound reflections on various drawbacks of modern society,have re-constructed the postmodern thoughts and theories—including ecological ethics,ecological theology,ecological science view,and ecological aesthetic view—after absorbing the strength of traditional,modern and constructive postmodernism.The fifth chapter mainly discusses the ecological practice of constructive postmodernism.The ecologists of constructive postmodernism are the unity of knowing and doing,and their ecological practice has provided a promising plan for ecological civilization in the future.Their ecological practice focuses on ecological economy,ecological agriculture,and ecological city.The sixth chapter emphasizes the theoretical response of deep ecology and eco-feminism towards the ecological view of constructive postmodernism,and the enlightenment of constructive postmodernism to the construction of ecological civilization in current China.Hereby,the ecological thought of constructive postmodernism can not only be used as the bridge between communications of the west and China,but also the guidance for our construction of ecological civilization.