The Burden and Privilege of Educating for Environmental Awareness

Abstract

Modern humanity does not experience itself as a part of nature, but as an outside force destined to dominate and conquer it. Humans even talk of a battle with nature, forgetting that, if they won the battle, they would find themselves on the losing side. Until quite recently, the battle seemed to go well enough to give humanity the illusion of unlimited powers, but not so well as to bring the possibility of total victory into view. This has now come into view, and many people, albeit a minority, are beginning to realize what this means for the continued existence of humanity.