생태문명을 지향하여: 화이트헤드적 관점에서

Abstract

This paper philosophically attempts to analyze the root causes of ecological problems. Based on that, it proposes the construction of an ecological civilization as an alternative to those problems. This alternative is pursued based on Whitehead's philosophy of organisms. From a Whiteheadian perspective, ecological problems arise in conjunction with the core theory of modernism, e.g. mechanism and human-centered understanding of subjectivity. Of course, these two theories have contributed a lot to the advancement of modern civilization. But at the same time, it has brought about ecological problems too. I first attempt to explain how these two theories have become the core messages of modernism, and further explains how they have been the root cause of today' ecological problems. But this article not only points out the negative side of modernism, but also seeks for a solution to it. I will argue that those problems caused by human-centered understanding of subjectivity can be tackled by a pan-experimentalism in Whitehead philosophy, and further point out that those problems caused by mechanism can be solved by the philosophy of organisms. This paper also compares the claims of Whitehead's ecological philosophy with those of a deep ecology. I will first point out that Whitehead's philosophy has some similarities to the positions of deep ecology in many ways. This is because his philosophy of organisms boldly acknowledges the subjective identity of non-human beings. But Whitehead's philosophy is distinct from deep ecology in the sense that it does not claim indiscriminate equality between humans and non-humans. In the process of elucidating this, I will further show how the ecological civilization theory based on Whitehead philosophy sees the status and role of human beings in eco-systems.