REVISITING ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY: ITS BEGINNING TO PRESENT STATE (original) (raw)

Sociological Theory and the Natural Environment

HIstory of the Human Sciences 18/1, 2005

In this article, I criticize environmental sociology's conventional diagnosis of its methodological situation and overly narrow definition of its field. I argue for a greater engagement with the natural science base and consideration of anthropological approaches. I start with conceptual analysis, identifying the human-environment relationship as a proactive two-way interaction. I then present an outline of global environmental dynamics, highlighting the unequal size of human activities on geosphere and biosphere scale, and the role of the biosphere as manager of the geosphere; this as context for the human population problem. Three types of environmental problems are next identified: urban-industrial, rural-agrarian, and high hazard exposure. These are seen as forming a continuum, with anthropogenic and natural factors synergizing at the centre. I comment on their geographic distribution, noting Europe's limited and specific environmental experience. Lastly I attempt an overview without biological metaphors of the human-environment relationship through time, commenting on its inherent imbalances and how these might be diagnosed. I conclude that sociology's bias to modernity and the West renders it inadequate to the global environmental question. A wider and deeper spacio-temporal consideration is needed, with the whole continuum of environmental problems considered. For this, environmental sociology should seek a synthesis with cultural anthropology centring on the anthropological concept of culture; an approach, I argue, that is accessible through the sociology of Max Weber.

Environment and Society: A Thematic Review on Origin and Development of Environmental Sociology

As disciplines develop their own coherent body of knowledge, their focus flows towards the areas which are hitherto not given sufficient attention. Environment as a reality is vital for all disciplines which are concerned with the particular layer of reality. But what constitutes immediate environment for each layer of reality studied by particular science differs. If society or group is the immediate environment for individuals, natural environment is whereas the immediate and close environment surrounding society. Such surrounding environments play an important role in the constitution and functioning of the dependent units. This essay is an attempt to understand how far the factor of environment and ecology was reflected in sociological literature. This paper is divided into three sections. In first section strains of environment sociology is explored; in second section, emergence of environmental sociology and its critical views on environment-society relations are examined. Last section deals with the critical issues and consequences of modernity on society in the framework of Risk. This paper finds that focus and perspective of the discipline changes when shifts in socio-economic ideologies take place such as doctrines of ‘laisser-faire’ and ‘Meliorism’ which has corresponding influence on the ontological debates such as nature versus nurture. We are living in the age of risk at present which is manufactured and the nature is not any more nature.

Environment Philosophies and Environmental Sociology

How far sociology is able to provide an understanding about the formation of new structures and cultural transformation of present societies assumes importance in the context of environmental agendas. Environmental problems which mankind is facing in present time at global level such as global warming, deforestation, desertification, loss of biodiversity and genetic engineering seriously draw and force our attention in rethinking the relations between nature, environment and society which has both academic and practical significance. Emergence of environmental ideology and environmental activism mark significant shift in human reflexivity towards his own foundational base of existence that is Earth. This paper examines Human Ecology, Deep ecology and Eco feminism as environmental philosophies which Environmental philosophies examined in this paper show that domination of nature and domination of humans by humans are coterminous. Domination of nature by humans makes him insensitive to the interconnections between nature and humans. Environmental philosophies makes us sensitive by drawing our attention to the fact that metabolism of earth is connected to the metabolism of human beings. How far sociology has given due attention and integrated the views of such environmental philosophies is a larger debatable question. The rising environmental ideologies and their ramifications on sociological knowledge is a debatable matter. But it is undoubtedly agreed that mainstream sociology has largely neglected the domain of environment as a variable in constitution and understanding the interfaces of society. This has roots in European enlightenment and positivistic orientation of sociology. I How far sociology is able to provide an understanding about the formation of new structures and cultural transformation of present societies assumes importance in the context of environmental agendas. With the globalization of environmental issues, destruction of ozone layer, global warming and with surfacing of radical environmentalism, environmental justice movement, eco

Nature, Society and Social Change

Societies Without Borders, 2012

"Environmental destruction has become an everyday reality in the contemporary world. Major concerns are being put forward regarding the dangers to the environment in general and to human societies in particular, with strong focus currently being put on climate change. Sociology has an important role to play in the analysis of environmental problems. The interaction between nature and society can be analysed through the concept of overdetermination. At the same time, the social construction on environmental problems is imperative for environmental issues to reach the agenda. An active environmental sociology which is as much concerned with analysis as it is with social change, should clearly highlight that claimsmaking and political strategy is imperative in the tackling of environmental issues within the public sphere. "

Bringing nature back in: The challenge of environmental sociology

Sociological inquiry, 1996

For the past twenty years sociologists have systematically addressed “envi-ronmental problems,” adding a viewpoint important to policymakers, planners, natural scientists, and engineers. Three kinds of environmental sociology have developed along the way: the ...