by: Susan L Young
To know where I am going, I first look from whence I come and discover that I am heir to a legacy of beliefs that until recently, I have been almost totally unaware. The very foundation on which I have based my life has been set in concrete long before my birth. Expanding my vocabulary to include such terms as worldview and modernity, my first task appears to be dissect these concepts, identifying which elements I have blindly adhered to, where they came from and if they are valid or not.
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Worldview is the way in which one perceives the world encompassing how we see five major issues:
- Human nature – is the glass half full or half empty?
- Society – basically good or evil?
- Time or history – linear or cyclical?
- God or the ultimate reality – is there or isn’t there?
- The relationship between human beings and the natural world – are we part of or in charge of it? (Grelle 2003)
I discover that my worldview can be traced back to events of the 15th and 16th century, when the discoveries of Copernicus and Galileo turned the world upside down by proposing that the planets and the sun did not revolve around the earth. This changed how the Western world viewed nature and the role of human beings on this earth. Suddenly, science had elevated mankind to a position of near deity. All of nature and life on this earth was relegated to a position of utility, seen to have value only in how it well it served the needs of humans.
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This anthropocentric view was promoted in the writings of Bacon, Descartes, Newton and other scientists and philosophers who believed only humans to possess a soul and saw the rest of the creation as a mechanism that functioned by inflexible laws. All the magic of the unknown was believed to be within the reach of science, given enough time and luck. The modern thinkers believed that if enough of nature’s secrets could be extracted, than humans could meld her (nature) to their purposes (Kinsley 1995).
By: Susan L Young
Who am I? A woman fast approaching her senior years who is venturing into her third stage of life. The first was spent in youthful exploration of the world around me; the second in establishment of family and career. Now, at the doorway of retirement, I find that I have choices before me and for once I am not compelled to wander aimlessly in ignorance or continue on a path predestined for by necessity. So, here I am, asking the question: What do I want to do with this next stage of my life?
Many answers come to mind but one stands out: Something meaningful – something that will make a difference!
It’s an awesome responsibility to take on. What can I do that will have any impact in the overall cosmos? Do I adhere to Mead’s admonition and attempt to change the world? (Mead 1928) Even, more importantly, how do I know that I am doing something that will have a positive impact? Many a well intentioned act has lead this world into deeper crisis (i.e. splitting the atom). At this point, it would be easy to throw in the towel and leave the solutions to greater minds than mine. I have often done just that as a young adult and busy mother. Can I afford to continue turning a blind eye to the environmental crisis, knowing that the world population has more than doubled in my lifetime (Kennedy 1993)?
Now with economic stability and a college education, I have the means to look for answers and the ability to analyze the possible results of my actions. With these tools in hand, I begin a new adventure. The journey into the unknown, the realm of responsible living.
Our world is struggling with overpopulation, pollution, depletion of natural resources, and an economy based on feeding the insecurities of the populace. True, science has come up with some answers. Catalytic converters do reduce emissions, the Great Lakes and rivers of Europe are being redeemed (Scheider 1990). However, science on its own is not enough. Our political and religious institutions alike are finally acknowledging the need to take action not only on a national and international level, but even more significantly, on a personal level (Moyer 1990).
I think it is time to reevaluate our premises. I believe the task of saving the planet is overwhelming, but a wise man (Lao-tzu) allegedly once said: “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step” (Chin 1963). We must start somewhere and time, and there is no better time and place than here and now. It is too this goal and purpose that this Website is dedicated.
Join me in this journey. If you have an article you would like included on this site, please submit it via email to articles@sowheretofromhere.com.
