Blog post 7: Art as a means of alleviating social Exclusion. Is it worth the investment?

BLOG POST 12: SUSTAINABILITY & SPIRITUAL PHILOSOPHIES
Buddhism, Taoism and ‘Land Ethic’ (Week 2, Term 2)

Introduction

In our last blog post, 'Sustainability & Social Conscience’, we discussed man’s interdependence with the earth. We considered how recognition of this interdependence in sustainability education could influence the creation of “Social Conscience” (Stibbe, 2009). This post considers existing philosophies that employ teachings on social conscience and on mans interconnected relationship with the earth. This includes Aldo Leopold’s ‘Land Ethic’, Taoism and Buddhism.

“Inspiration for more sustainable ways of living comes from many sources, including Buddhist beliefs and practices and the philosophical principles of Taoism… These are spiritual beliefs where humans and nature coexist in harmony, where people are seen as an integral part of nature, and part of the universal ebb and flow of life.” (Stibbe, 2009:205).

It is important to note that this post is not about underpinning sustainability education with spiritual ideologies, but is instead reflecting on those philosophies that advocate man as interdependent with the Earth as promotions of Social Conscience over Social Apathy and as “inspiration for more sustainable ways of living” (Stibbe, 2009:205).

1. Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic

Land Ethic Theory created by American philosopher and ecologist, Aldo Leopold “focuses on…community logic, emphasizing the need to treat humanity and nature as a holistic, integrated community” (Xing & Starik, 2017:1304). The theory explains why man should care for the “non-human world”, reemphasizing the need for “care…empathy” and a “holistic model” in which “human beings and nature operate interdependently” (Xing & Starik, 2017:1304). As was discussed in the previous post, recognition of the relationship between man and nature as interdependent reinforces the need for social conscience and thus the implementation of sustainable practices. One of the core elements of Leopold’s theory is this “shifting role” of man from “conquerors to…contributors” (Xing & Starik, 2017:1304). Xing & Starik argue that Leopold’s theory can be advanced through a juxtaposed “Taoist philosophy”, “Chinese Taoist philosophy can shed some revealing insights into the theoretical advancement of the land ethic; thus, it can provide a cultural and philosophical micro-foundational perspective for sustainability management” (Xing & Starik, 2017:1304).

2. Lao Tzu’s Taoism

The founder of Taoism, Lao Tzu (600-470 BC) “explained his theory of natural thinking in his book Tao Te Ching” (Xing & Starik, 2017:1304). This “natural thinking” promoted in Taoism emphasizes action through “non-coercive” means. Through a Taoist lens, action is met with an equal consequential reaction and thus, in relation to man and nature, “harming one will subsequently harm the other” (Feng, 2000; Xing & Sims, 2012 cited by Xing & Starik, 2017:1304). This follows a similar line of thought to the interdependent relationship between man and nature highlighted by Leopold and thus can “contribute to Leopold's land ethic” theory (Xing & Starik, 2017:1304). “Taoist thinking helps human beings to develop pro-environment beliefs of living with nature rather than over it, enhancing our awareness of the importance of leading good and sustainable lives on our finite Earth” (Xing & Starik, 2017:1304). The table below, as highlighted by Xing & Starik considers the ways in which Taoist leadership contributes to and impacts on sustainability and sustainability practice.

3. Buddhism

Buddhism is made distinct from other religions through the very essence of its “ideals” revolving around the “view of the self and the world as an interdependent/interconnected process (Macy, 1979 cited by Abeydeera et al, 2016:113). There are a number of Buddhist principles that have been found to relate with or have been connected to the concept of sustainability within literature. Such principles include, The Eightfold Path, Compassion for all living beings, The Law of Karma and The Four Noble Truths (Abeydeera et al, 2016:111). “Buddhism provides a whole series of meditative exercises for experiencing interconnection and directly perceiving the world we are part of” (Stibbe, 2009:205). Buddhist principles and practices emphasize the importance of compassion, love for all and “cooperation rather than competition”. According to Abeydeera et al. Such attitudes of cooperation and compassion “enhance prospects for sustainability” (Puntasen, 2007 cited by Abeydeera et al, 2016:112) and again reinforce the importance of social conscience through recognizing an act of harm towards the earth and as act of self-harm. However, while Buddhism has the “potential to inform sustainability”, a study carried out by Abeydeera et al. found that the individual Buddhist ideals of employers and employees in Buddhist countries were rarely implemented into organizational or corporate collectivist settings. (Abeydeera et al. 2016:127) Therefore, sustainability practices continued to play a secondary role to “economic prioritization”  (Abeydeera et al. 2016:128). Whilst it is valuable to learn of the ‘interdependency’ ideal taught in Buddhist and Taoist teachings, it is of little use to the pro-sustainability agenda without implementing sustainable practices that acknowledge the importance of this ideal and the consequences of a “psychologically exiled” (Stibbe, 2009:191) approach to sustainability.

Conclusion

An understanding of Buddhist and/or Taoist philosophies could be used to promote positive sustainability education and furthermore, pro-sustainable management practices in corporate settings. This can be utilized through emphasis on man’s interdependence with the Earth. Sustainability Education that teaches the ‘interdependency’ ideal as well as highlighting the juxtaposing ‘Socially Apathetic’ discourse allows students’ the opportunity to recognize themselves’ as beings-in-the-world and to choose how they wish to approach their being-ness. “Mainstream education can help correct the current imbalances, help learners gain a sense of interconnection, and educate the next generation for a sustainable life even in the midst of climate change” (Stibbe, 2009:205). Furthermore, an understanding of man and nature as interconnected through the utilization of Buddhist and/or Taoist philosophies may encourage employees and consumers to demand sustainable practices from businesses/employers. As highlighted by Stibbe, “Businesses…have been saying: ‘When the consumers want goods that are sustainable, then we’ll start producing them’” (Stibbe, 2009:204).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abeydeera, S. et al. (2016) Does Buddhism Enable a Different Sustainability Ethic at Work? Journal of Corporate Citizenship, 62 (22): 109-130.

Stibbe, A. (2009) The Handbook of Sustainability Literacy: Skills for a Changing World. Dartington: Green Books.

Xing Y, Starik M. (2017) Taoist leadership and employee green behaviour: A cultural and philosophical microfoundation of sustainability. Journal of Organizational Behaviour. 38 (9): 1304