On Philip Larkin’s Ambiguous Ecological Ethics

Philip Larkin(1922-1985)was one of the most influential English poets in modern history.As a representative voice of post-war Britain,Larkin composed a variety of works on the topics of natural landscapes,animal well-being,and the human-nature relationship.By interpreting the ecological ethics displayed through these literary works,one may better understand the overall attitudes and emotions held by Larkin towards nature and ecology.This thesis seeks to present the ambiguous views in Larkin’s ecological ethics,and provide rational explanations for their inner contradictions.Based on the theoretical frameworks of Ecocentrism and Anthropocentrism,the thesis finds that Larkin’s views towards nature were often self-conflicting,showing both a feeling of love and respect for nature and ecology,and a concern for human interests and status.Specifically,Larkin expressed incompatible thoughts on issues such as the value of nature,the impacts of human civilization on non-human species,and the estranging connection between human society and the natural world.These nature writings show that Larkin’s ecological ethics do not exist as a unified system of thoughts,but are fundamentally incongruous instead.In order to logically explain Larkin’s self-conflicting views towards nature,one needs to put aside the traditional dualistic division between Ecocentrism and Anthropocentrism.Contemporary theories on ecological ethics explore and acknowledge the middle grounds between the two opposite theoretical frameworks.These perspectives share a similar mindset with what was shown in Larkin’s works,and will be useful for interpreting the poet’s sophisticated and ambiguous ecological philosophies.