To Liberation From The Control

"Ecological Marxism" rooted in the worldwide influential "Green Movement" in 1960's. It is not only one of the most important new schools of contemporary western Marxism, but also an active starting point of contemporary western Marxism. "Ecological Marxism" as a new philosophical formation is developing in North American. The theme of this dissertation is to generalize and analyze the thoughts of William Leiss's "Ecological Marxism" with the help of viewpoint and methods of Marxism to grasp the thought of William Leiss's "Ecological Marxism" as a whole.This dissertation consists of seven parts: Introduction, Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five and Conclusion.In Introduction, the dissertation briefly introduces the research situation of "Ecological Marxism"; the biography, works and thought's development of William Leiss; In addition, the Introduction introduces the research situation of William Leiss's "Ecological Marxism" thoughts and the research method of the dissertation.In Chapter One, the dissertation briefly analyzes "the idea of the mastery of nature", which is the core conception of William Leiss's "Ecological Marxism" thought. In the preface of domination of nature, Leiss criticizes two attitudes about the environmental problem, and points out that "the idea of the mastery of nature" is the deepest root of ecological crisis. Mastery of nature has become an influential contemporary ideology which conceals contradiction of the society. If we can't appreciate the essence and function of the ideology, we would not find the solution for the environmental problem. Through the study of the myth, magic, religion and philosophy, Leiss reveals that "the idea of the mastery of nature" had been hiding in the notion of people for a long time. In addition, Leiss analyzes the thought of Francis Bacon and Carl Marx which had given important effect in the development of "the idea of the mastery of nature".Chapter Two is devoted to analyzing the "the idea of the mastery of nature" from the perspective of science. Through researching the history of science, Leiss finds that "the idea of the mastery of nature" was hiding in the science for a long time, and the combination of two things not only can been found in the modern society, but also can been found in the beginning of the science. After studying of the notion of domination of in the Scheler's work, Leiss points out that "the idea of the mastery of nature" attempts to legitimate their authority by means of modern science and science has become the theory about the domination over nature. Finally, Leiss studies the "two worlds" and "two natures" of Husserl and reveals the crisis of modem science and "the idea of the mastery of nature" in the science.Chapter Three is devoted to analyzing the "the idea of the mastery of nature" from the perspective of technology. Leiss thinks that technologies can be thought of as "embedded techniques" as operational capacities necessarily interlaced with the prevailing institutional forms in a social system. Under present circumstances the specific results of research in the modem natural sciences cannot enter directly into the sphere of human practical lives. Information, techniques, and the reasoning of science can be incorporated in the social life-world only through technical utilization, as technological knowledge. Technology had not been as an opposite of human being until the modern society. In the contemporary society, through the technological reason and technological idols, technology constitutes one of the means by which mastery of nature is linked to mastery over men.In Chapter Four, the dissertation briefly analyzes the relationship between mastery of nature and mastery over men. Leiss points out that the attempt to master external nature has a close inextricable relationship with the evolution of new means for exercising domination over men, and the people is the object of mastery. Through the study of the need of people, Leiss reveals that an important means of dominating over people is to control the need of people. Excess production and excess consumption not only strengthen the domination of nature, but also reinforce the mastery over men.In Chapter Five, the dissertation introduces the opinions of William Leiss about the future society. The domination of nature has been proved by the continuous development of science and technology, but the unbearable suffering of nature results in the "revolt of nature". Environmental problem has become the chronic social diseases endangering the people's production and living. To change the situation, we must reflect upon "the idea of the mastery of nature" which had been popular for a long time. If we want to realize the revolt of nature, we must change the general implementation of satisfaction and build "the conserver society" in the future.In Conclusion, dissertation analyzes the significance and the limitation of William Leiss's "Ecological Marxism" thought. Under such an circumstance that Marxism is at the low tide, the international socialist movement are confronted with the significant frustration, and the global ecological crisis are getting more serious day by day, it has significance practical meaning that William Leiss tries to analyze the environmental problems in the North American and explores the solution of ecological crisis with the help of Marxist basic concepts and methods. However, as a result of special historical condition and practical reason, William Leiss inevitably has some theoretical limitations and faults. Therefore, we should differentiate them by means of Marxist basic principles and methods.