Research On European And American Cognitive Ecocriticism

Starting from the origin and definition of ―European and American Cognitive Ecocriticism‖,this paper attempts to construct the theoretical system of European and American―Cognitive Ecocriticism‖ from the aspects of theoretical discourse construction,text interpretation practice and evaluation.This paper not only preliminarily combs the theoretical discourse of ―Cognitive Ecocriticism‖,but also attempts to apply the theory of ―Cognitive Ecocriticism‖ to the practice of text interpretation,in order to show the theoretical value and practical significance of ―Cognitive Ecocriticism‖.On this basis,this paper also discusses the development prospects of ―Cognitive Ecocriticism‖,and discusses the possible impact of European and American ―Cognitive Ecocriticism‖ on China’s related research.This paper is divided into three parts,the first part is the introduction,the second part is the first to fourth chapter,and the third part is the conclusion.The first part,the introduction is divided into three aspects.First,it introduces the reason of the topic;Second,it combs the research status of ―Cognitive Ecocriticism‖ at home and abroad;Third,it points out the research significance and value of European and American―Cognitive Ecocriticism‖.The second part,the first chapter ―the generation of European and American Cognitive Ecocriticism‖,mainly from the proposal and definition of Cognitive Ecocriticism in Europe and America,the theoretical basis of Cognitive Ecocriticism and the realistic perspective,makes a preliminary analysis of the theory of European and American Cognitive Ecocriticism.The cognitive turn of Ecocriticism is not only reasonable,but also an inevitable trend.Under the influence of Cognitive Science,European and American ―Cognitive Ecocriticism‖ focuses on discussing the mental functions behind human,non-human,and quasi human‘s ecological behaviors through literary criticism.European and American ―Cognitive Ecocriticism‖ takes cognitive psychology and biological evolution as its theoretical basis,and the ecocriticism under the ―cognitive turn‖ provides a new research paradigm for Ecocriticism.With the worsening ecological environment of the real society,the assumption of ―risk society‖ and―toxic community‖ formed on this basis provides a new perspective to analyze the social reality for the emergence of Cognitive Ecocriticism.The second chapter,―the theoretical discourse of European and American Cognitive Ecocriticism‖ mainly discusses from four chapters.The first segment,on the basis of coevolution of body and consciousness,European and American ―Cognitive Ecocriticism‖opposes the dichotomy of nature and culture,and advocates that ecosystem is an organic whole in dynamic balance;the second segment,Cognitive Ecocriticism advocates that human experience and sense of place generated by emotional attachment.This paper,from the perspective of Evolutionary Psychology,clarifies the causes of experience and local consciousness;the third segment,Cognitive Ecocriticism advocates weak constructivism.They believe that human reflection and construction of nature can only be partial,not a perfect reproduction,thus supporting the principle of moderation and relativity;The fourth segment,Cognitive Ecocriticism in ecological conscience based on consciences,this paper constructs self-cognition,discusses the boundary of ecological ethics,and asks whether non-human beings have consciousness,trying to seek the self-positioning of human beings in the whole ecological world.The third chapter,―An exploration of the interpretation methods of European and American cognitive ecocriticism‖,selects three literary texts to explore how to apply―Cognitive Ecocriticism‖ to the interpretation of literary texts.The first segment,this paper discusses the influence of cognitive model on ecological choice by distinguishing different cultural environments,and tries to use figure and ground theory to interpret Lopez’s way of imagination and cognitive strategy of presenting natural landscape in the Arctic dream,so as to discuss the ecological enlightenment implied in the text;the second segment,it uses the possible worlds theory.This paper explores the author’s embodied experience in David Copperfield’s environmental description,and analyzes how does the author communicate with readers through the construction of possible worlds;the third segment,it uses ―toxic discourse‖and ―ecological unconsciousness‖.This paper interprets the literary imagination of ecological disaster in survivor’s memories from the perspective of unconscious,and explores the author’s ecological wisdom and thinking behind the text language.The fourth chapter ―the evaluation of European and American Cognitive Ecocriticism‖analyzes the prospect of this developing theory.This chapter mainly discusses the value and limitation of ―Cognitive Ecocriticism‖ and the influence of European and American ―Cognitive Ecocriticism‖ on Chinese studies.European and American ―Cognitive Ecocriticism‖ provides a new research paradigm for Ecocriticism,promotes the construction of individual ecological rationality,strengthens the attention to the body,and actively guides the readers’ ecological cognitive process.However,there are still some deficiencies in the European and American―Cognitive Ecocriticism‖,which need to be improved.Based on the research achievements of European and American ―Cognitive Ecocriticism‖,Chinese Cognitive Ecocriticism scholars should learn from the research experience of European and American scholars and absorb the nutrients of Chinese literary tradition,so as to develop the research of Cognitive Ecocriticism with Chinese characteristics.The third part is the conclusion.The author believes that the theory of European and American ―Cognitive Ecocriticism‖ guides us to face up to the position of human beings in nature,maintain a heart of awe,and strive to build a harmonious relationship between man and nature based on the specific social reality context.