Environmental humanities: the need to expand our understanding of nature

Source: The post is based on the article “Environmental humanities: the need to expand our understanding of nature” published in “The Hindu” on 20th September 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Environment- Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

News: The article discusses the importance of incorporating environmental humanities into mainstream academic conversations. It highlights the valuable narratives of marginalized communities in India and questions the traditional Western viewpoint on nature and the environment that has dominated for so long.

What is the role of Environmental Humanities?

Role of Environmental Humanities:

Holistic Understanding: It looks beyond just science to understand human and non-human interactions, promoting sustainable coexistence.

Addressing Academic Bias: Environmental humanities confront the bias against “soft sciences” in institutes that focus primarily on hard sciences.

Challenging Mainstream Views: The discipline critiques the absence of discussions on human-nature interactions and social justice in mainstream environmental debates.

Incorporating Indigenous Insights: It warns against a singular understanding of nature and stresses the value of multiple indigenous perspectives on the environment.

Embracing Diverse Narratives: The field underscores the importance of marginalized community narratives, such as those of the Dalits and tribal groups, for a complete understanding of nature.

Recognizing Non-human Importance: Environmental humanities shifts the focus from just humans, giving significance to non-humans in environmental discourse.

How does India view the relationship between the nation and nature?

Intrinsic Connection: In India, nature is deeply entwined with society and culture, leading to a unique perspective of the nation through the lens of nature and ecology.

Two Predominant Perspectives:

Universal Ecology: One view sees the nation as a place where nature is a common ecological reality for all citizens.

Diverse Affiliations: The other view recognizes multiple perspectives defining the nation in connection to nature, emphasizing cultural ties and diverse notions about ecology.

Role of Ecological Nationalism: It’s used to justify either the utilization or restriction of natural resources, seeing nature as either a boon or a barrier for national progress.

Contesting Modern Utilitarian Models: The authors credit today’s environmental challenges to utilitarian progress models which extract resources, disregarding traditional Indian narratives.

How can Environmental Humanities enhance our understanding of nature?

Valuing the Environment’s Agency: By acknowledging the environment’s intrinsic worth and agency, the field moves away from a purely utilitarian view of nature.

Highlighting Interplay Through Narratives: The discipline enriches understanding by examining stories of rivers, landscapes, plants, animals, and community perspectives.

Tied to Social Justice: It recognizes that environmental problems cannot be separated from social injustices and discrimination faced by marginalized communities.