Environmental History: A Framework
“Environmental History is the interdisciplinary study of change
over time within evolving human/nature relationships. When done well,
environmental history is 1) intensely interdisciplinary, and 2) relentlessly
relevant.” – Dr. Rob Williams
As an environmental
historian, I speak for the environmental historical record, trying to be
objective and nonpolitical.
As an environmental
journalist, I try to be as intensely interdisciplinary and as relentlessly
relevant as possible.
As an environmentalist,
“I speak for the trees,” subjectively and politically, like the Lorax.
Epistemology: “the study of the nature and
origins of knowledge.” Operative question: “How do I/we know what I/we know?”
FIVE ways of knowing: 1) Tradition; 2)
Authority; 3) Intuition; 4) Direct Experience; 5) Scientific Method
(hypothesis, test, revision)
7 S.E.P.R.I.T.E. Windows Into
Environmental History
1. Social Structures (“socius” = “companion”):
Considers age, gender, race, ethnicity,
and socioeconomic class. (sociology,
anthropology, race/class/gender studies)
2. Economics (“oikos” = “management of the house”):
Considers time, work, division of labor,
currency, resources.
(economics, finance, ecological economics)
3. Politics (“polis” = “city/citizen”):
Consider systems of decision-making and
governance.
(political science, diplomacy, military studies)
4. Religion (“religare” = “to bind together.”)
Considers beliefs, rituals, practices, the
SUPERnatural.
(religion/religious studies, philosophy, theology)
5. Ideology (“ideos” = “idea.”)
Considers the big ideas or "isms"
(nationalism, capitalism).
(global
systems studies, political science, philosophy)
6. Technology (“tekne” = “craft/skill.”)
Consider tools, machines and inventions.
(architecture, design, engineering)
7. Environments (“environs” = “surroundings.”)
Consider natural,
human-built and media/comm systems. (ecology,
environmental sciences, natural sciences, communications studies)
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