This thesis researches what the main ecocentric values and principles are from eco-artists and ecotherapy facilitators, and how they can promote ecocentric perspectives about the relation between humans, other beings and the planet. It starts with an overview of anthropocentrism, which is a human-centred perspective of humans and nature that sees them as separate, and believes humans to have more intrinsic value than nature and other beings. The more-than-human world is seen as resource capital for human use, enabling harmful practices like ecocide and over-extraction. Beliefs that form the roots of this rift are a perceived Western human superiority and power over human and non-human beings that are seen as inferior; and a worldly understanding based on simplification, separation and dualisms. Historically, this perceived superiority became symptomatic in harmful practices like colonisation and slavery. The thesis then moves on to explore six ecocentric perspectives and nature-centred values that stress equal intrinsic value of humans and other beings. Six main ecocentric themes are identified: humans are nature; the importance of pluriversality; presence and connection; cyclical change and dynamic transformation; co-creation and autonomy; and life as a subjective experience that values other ways of knowing. These ecocentric perspectives are illuminated and discussed through interviews with eco-artists and ecotherapy facilitators. Besides interviews and conversations with ecocentric practitioners, a complementary research method has been observatory participation, which both deepens and colours the findings of this research. Conclusively, an argument is made for the importance of personal and subjectively felt experiences that can steer humans towards shaping their own lived understanding of their relation to planet Earth. In moving away from a monistic worldview in a biodiverse world it is important to create space to honour and work with the many ways of learning, knowing, and living on planet Earth. There is no one right way to live well and be sustainable. Diverse ecotherapy and eco-art practices offer examples of how nature connection can be established in relatively simple ways, yet cause a profound shift in worldly perception, which is essential in acknowledging how human beings are dependent on a healthy, biodiverse natural environment.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:uu-533418 |
| Date | January 2024 |
| Creators | De Jonge, Nina |
| Publisher | Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för geovetenskaper |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Relation | Examensarbete vid Institutionen för geovetenskaper, 1650-6553 ; 2024/33 |
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