A Study Of Thoreau's Thoughts On Nature In Walden From The Perspective Of Animal Rights

Henry David Thoreau(1817-1862)is a famous American writer,philosopher and representative of transcendentalism.In his masterpiece Walden,Thoreau records his exploration of the harmony between man and nature.The thesis focuses on Thoreau's thoughts on nature in Walden from the perspective of animal rights.The thesis takes transcendentalism and Taoism as the two main sources of Thoreau's ecological thoughts.In his transcendentalist practice,Thoreau sees that being close to nature is crucial to understand the higher truth.In the meantime,he embraces Taoist world views which reject the opposition between human and nature.Thoreau's thought of the interconnectedness between man and animals is a window to understand his thought of man and nature.Animal rights theory advocates extending equal considerations to animals.Similarly,Thoreau suggests that people should recognize the equality of animals,respect the rights of animals and realize the harmony between man and animals.He believes that the realization of harmony between man and animals is necessary for the further exploration of harmony between man and nature.The thesis systematically investigates Thoreau's exploration of the harmony between man and nature in Walden from three aspects: the basis,the method and the ideal result of harmony.Biocentric Equality is the basis of harmony,which requires the opposition to Anthropocentrism and the advocacy of Biocentric Equality.Voluntary simplicity is the way to harmony,because Thoreau criticizes the excessive desire for material wealth and encourages people to pursue the simplicity of life.Self-realization through nature is the ideal result of harmony,which includes deconstruction of human-nonhuman dualism and construction of whole consciousness in nature.Thoreau insists that nature is an interdependent whole,whereas man is part of nature.Thoreau's thoughts on nature in Walden arouse people's thinking on the harmony between man and nature.The most important revelation is that human flourishing is closely related to nonhuman flourishing,and man's responsibility is to protect nature.