The Evolution Of The Connotation Of American "Wilderness" In The Perspective Of Archaeology Of Knowledge

Wilderness history as a subfield of the environmental history,a new historiography,and the study of it not only to define the connotation of “wilderness”,more important is to explore the social and historical implications behind the change of “wilderness” connotation,on account of various meanings of “wilderness” in different contexts and eras.Abiding by the above problem consciousness and research ideas,the main contents of the article are shown below:First of all,the introduction states the research method of investigating the evolution of connotation of “wilderness”,that is to use Michel Foucault's study of conceptual history,and have a deep research on substantial factors that impact the change of “wilderness” connotation.For another,it combs the domestic and foreign research status of “wilderness” and puts forward the purpose of this writing.From longitudinal dimension,the thesis elaborates the transformation process of human idea in different eras.Chapter One mainly ascends to the “wilderness” connotation within the period of colony.First,the desolated landscape of American continent makes European immigrants afraid,this place is regarded as the symbol of mysterious and wicked,that needs to be conquered by humankind.Second,in the mind of Pioneers,wilderness is the obstacle of civilization.Third,however,in many early writings of wilderness,which reflect the understanding of wilderness with cultural prejudice,besides that,some writers express appreciation for wilderness to some extent and emphasize subjective cognition and attitudes of writers about “wilderness”.Chapter Two investigates the connotation evolution process of “wilderness” and its influencing factors in the mid-to late-19 thcentury.First,under the influence of romanticism,more and more groups begin to pay attention to wilderness,they realize that wilderness has both aesthetic and spiritual values,the specific signs of America,that different from other countries.Second,Emerson and Thoreau constantly make natural philosophy of cognitive idea permeate into literature that has a critical effect on changing American's cognitive style about wilderness.Third,ten years after the American Civil War,it is the first time that government suggests that wilderness should be protected by federal mechanism,now the American wilderness idea has fully integrated into the powerful national concept,in consequence,respecting nature coexists with adhering to colonial culture.Chapter Three,in the 20 thcentury,the defects of urbanization and industrialization exposes increasingly,and people start to rethought civilization and progress.First,in the guidance of modern wilderness idea,wilderness is endowed with divine sublime meanings,and it is the antidote of human civilization.Second,the debates about “wilderness” are endless,and until the meaning of “wilderness” is defined legally that explicates the limits and management policies of wilderness area.Third,as late as early 21 stcentury,some scholars' perceptions about “wilderness” are different and further illustrate the past and future of“wilderness” connotation,which is good for the development of wilderness idea and has a better service to the contemporary construction of environmental ecology.Epilogue reveals that human beings deepen their cognition about “wilderness” as well as the reformation of ecological environmental idea.The change of ecological thought is the product of social civilization,in turn,the continuous progress of social civilization also affects the innovation of human thought.The research on “wilderness” connotation and its social cultural significance are not only beneficial for coordinating the relationship between human and nature,but also have far-reaching influences on our country's environmental protection career,resource management policy and ecological idea development.