Analysis Of Foster’s Theory Of Ecological Crisis

Capitalist civilization has brought a global scale to make unprecedented material prosperity in its special production, for that matter capitalist system seems to be praiseworthy, at the same time it also caused unprecedented negative impacts in human society, the most significant one is the deterioration of the environment and ecological damage, it’s not only the current threat to human life, human living space will have a qualitative change if let it go without restriction, at that time the earth will no longer suitable for human survival, human civilization will also be in danger of destruction, this is the so-called "ecological crisis." Ecological crisis is not just a serious problem of objective reality in front of us, it is also as an important scholar academic subjects concerned about the future of mankind. Scholars face ecological crisis actively using stock of existing knowledge and academic system of human ideology to review and criticize the social system including relations of production and productivity, as well as the way of life, with a view to get the nature of the ecological crisis, causes, and the corresponding solutions achieving harmony and unity between man and nature again.Since the Marxist covers natural philosophy, and other areas of political and economic philosophy, so many scholars see analyzing the ecological crisis with Marxist theory to find solutions as an important path of research, which formed the ecological Marxist academic camp. Basic Characteristics of Ecological Marxism is that the relationship between human society and nature is core category of the research, the finger of criticism point capitalist social system, the realistic goal is the dialectical unity between human society and nature John Bellamy Foster is a heavyweight one among the eco-Marxist scholars. Foster’s status is determined by its unique theoretical approaches and the research results, he advocated to return classics research in the face of the ecological crisis, namely the reinterpret Marxist theory in perspective of ecology, especially the dialectical materialism and historical materialism’s theory Reinterpretation on the ecological crisis. By digging the relationship between Marxist materialism and Epicurean atomism and Feuerbach materialism and Darwinism, Foster formed the reconstruction of Marxist materialism on three levels by the ontology, epistemology and practice, thereby demonstrated the existence of ecological thought in Marxist materialist theory. At the same time, Foster found that the concept of "material exchange" by analyzing Marx classic, and Forster pointed out that "material exchange" concept plays a very important role in the Marx’s view of nature, and this concept is the center of Marx’s reveal that the nature of capitalist is anti-ecological, Forster developed "material exchange " into a "material exchange fracture theory", thus it is more prominent the center position in the criticism to capitalist mode of production. Forster believed it’s the need for the development of capitalism separates the interdependent relationship between man and land, Resulting the product of land can’t return to the land after the consumption by human, and eventually leaded to the alienation of natural and human alienation. In the research mode, Foster formed his ecological Marxism Theory with vivid attitude, complete logic and clear thinking by return to the Marxist classics. Foster confirmed the existence of Marxist ecological idea by the reinterpretation of the Marxist classics,and improved Marx’s " material exchange" theory,also he set this as the logic starting point to reveal the anti-ecological nature of capitalism, and determine the source of ecological crisis, and draw the conclusion which capitalism is incompatible with Environmental Protection. Thus, Foster gave a serious criticism to those trying to solve the ecological crisis without actuating the capitalist system but just rely on the economic reductionism and technology reform. After all, he proposed a unique solution of the ecological crisis, he believed that only the prospect of eco-socialism can solve the ecological crisis.Purpose of this paper is to find the value to our country current ecological civilization construction by inspiration Foster’s ecological crisis theory. In order to highlight the characteristics of Foster’s ecological crisis theory in a realistic way, I introduced O’Connor ecological crisis theory which have had a controversy with Foster’s ecological crisis theory. We will be more comprehensive and in-depth understanding Foster’s ecological crisis theory through this bidirectional understanding and dialectical analysis, We found not only the theoretical advantage but also realistic defects in this comparison.however, a more objective assessment will help us to absorb and use Foster ecological crisis theory more better.The foothold of this paper is to find the theoretical value and practical enlightenment to our country from Foster’s ecological crisis theory by comprehensive exposition and in-depth analysis, The revelation value it provides for the Ecological civilization construction of our country have three points at least, including play the advantages of the socialist system,prevent the economic reductionism and improper use of technology,and the directing effect of ethics.