| There are many competing approaches available for responding to environmental problems and dealing with ecological issues. This dissertation presents Integral Ecology: an approach that takes significant, valuable insights from the major existing schools of ecological thought and unites them in a comprehensive framework. First, an introduction to and overview of Integral Ecology is provided that distinguishes it from other environmental approaches. Then, an exploration of a number of integral pioneers in ecology is provided to demonstrate the various currents of intellectual thought and applied action informing this new and unique approach. This is followed by an overview of the emerging field of Integral Ecology. Next, Integral Theory, the meta-methodology of this dissertation, is introduced. This meta-methodology provides a foundation for a post-metaphysical participatory approach to ecology, which explores how ontology, epistemology, and methodology co-arise to disclose and enact the complex nature of environmental phenomena. With the main concepts of Integral Theory introduced, the difficulty of defining "ecology" is explored in the context of three of the most influential definitions of ecology. Next, the twenty-five major approaches to ecology are presented. Integral Ecology is then defined in such a way that honors and includes the importance of all these approaches. With a definition of Integral Ecology in place, three conceptual frameworks are provided: The Four Terrains and their Twelve Niches, The Eight Ecological Selves, and The Eight Ecological Modes of Inquiry. Each of these components of Integral Ecology emphasize a crucial dimension of a post-metaphysical approach to environmental phenomena: ontology, epistemology, and methodology, respectively. Each of these dimensions are illustrated with various examples, including a multidimensional consideration of recycling. Finally, an Integral Ecology platform is presented. |
