Geography and Human Relationships

Geography and Human Relationships

From mechanistic thinking to ecological thinking: the emergence of a new paradigm in the relationship between human and nature

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 departmet of geoghrafia- zanjan
2 2. Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning,faculty of social sciences, Zanjan University, Iran
3 . Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, faculty of social sciences, Zanjan University, Iran
10.22034/gahr.2025.519775.2461
Abstract
Abstract

One of the most important issues facing today's societies is environmental problems. Environmental problems have generally received attention since the 1950s; But their origin is based on much older histories. In this research, the relationship between man and nature is first mentioned. Ancient Greek philosophy and the Enlightenment period are important for the transformation of the relationship between man and nature. In this regard, the philosophical views of philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, and Bacon are emphasized. This research compares the views before and after modernism with a descriptive and analytical method. After examining the relationship between man and the environment in the classical and medieval eras, he discussed its development in the modern era and its consequences in the formation of ecological thinking in the next period. The negative consequences of the industrial revolution have been effective in the formation of ecological sensitivity. Another factor that is effective in the formation of ecological thinking is scientific studies in the field of ecology

In this research, philosophical thoughts and scientific studies effective in the formation of ecological worldview are examined. The most important of them are Malthus' population theory, Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, Ernst Haeckel's contributions to ecology, Karl Marx's ecological views and Bertalanfi's general system theory. Considering the ecological problems we are facing today, the need to review the relationship between man and nature is revealed. In this study, what Enlightenment thinkers developed in the design of human-nature relations (mechanical worldview) will be discussed and criticized, and an attempt will be made to reveal clues of the foundations of ecological worldview from their criticisms of the Enlightenment
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 November 2025

  • Receive Date 28 April 2025
  • Accept Date 22 November 2025