An Ecological Ethical Reading Of Walden And Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) is an outstanding and influential American nature writer, philosopher, naturalist, the pioneer of modern environmentalism. and environmental scientist. His masterpiece Walden appeals to more and more readers for its profound ecological ethic implications. In 1985, Walden ranked the first among the "ten books forming American characters" according to the magazine of American Heritage. And it has also been regarded as "the Green Bible" in American literary history of environmental movement.This thesis intends to analyze the geneses and gist of ecological ethic thoughts embodied in Walden as well as Thoreau's conception of self-culture through the lens of ecological ethics. Thoreau believes that nature is endowed with intrinsic value and human should respect the rights of nature. In Thoreau's opinion. human is an equal member of nature, and the traditional anthropocentric conception of human's dominance over nature is the root reason of human's abuse of nature. which thus results in both alienation and antagonism between human and nature. Without the harmonious relationship between human and nature, human will have no chance to enjoy the prosperity and development of the whole ecosphere. Besides, human will have no chance to achieve self-culture either. Thoreau advocates a life of morality which attaches importance to the principles of voluntary simplicity, eco-centric equality and higher laws. These principles constitute the cornerstone of modern ecologic ethics, which contribute to the spiritual growth of individuals and the sustainable development of ecosphere.This thesis consists of five chapters. Chapter One deals with general knowledge about Thoreau and his writing Walden, as well as the previous studies on Walden. Most previous studies focus on Thoreau's writing techniques in Walden. In the past several years, more and more research has been conducted for the interpretation of Thoreau's words on ecological thoughts, but do not make deep exploration concerning the genesis and self-culture of Thoreau's ecological ethic thoughts. Chapter Two intends to make the theoretical survey of the ecological ethics, including the three basic theories of Land Ethic, Deep Ecology and Gaia hypothesis. These eco-centric theories challenge the authority of anthropocentrism and have developed three ultimate norms:self-realization and bio-centric equality and ecological holism. Chapter Three probes into the geneses of Thoreau's ecological ethic thoughts from the perspectives of Concord landscape, New England Transcendentalism. Oriental philosophy and American Indian culture. This reveals that Thoreau is an eclectic and open-minded precursor who endeavors to suck all the marrow of human intellects with regard to human-nature relationship and self-cultivation. Chapter Four focus on the analysis of the gist of Thoreau's ecological ethic thoughts embodied in Walden, which consists of three core principles of voluntary simplicity, eco-centric equality and higher laws. These principles work together to promote the conception that human should abandon the idea of being a master or conqueror over nature, if humans want to lead a meaningful and colorful life on earth. Chapter Five aims at analyzing Thoreau's life-long pursuit of self-culture from four perspectives of self-knowledge, self-exploration, self-development and self-realization. Thoreau contends that nature plays an indispensable and vital role in the process of pursuing self-culture. Through the close contact and communion with nature, the four aspects of self-culture work together to promote the elevation of spiritual self. Conclusion makes a brief summary and points out the most significant contribution that Thoreau has made by Walden. Thoreau extends the value notion to the whole nature and links environmental protection to self-cultivation, personal excellence, and flourishing. This extension provides a very persuasive rationale to convince more people to consciously and actively take part in the action of protecting environment.