Abstract
In this chapter, I argue that ecological wisdom (EW) is becoming an important social and ecological discourse. Discourses are language and frames that establish first principles which in turn guide action. The role of discourse in framing ecological debate, policies, and design is tremendously potent, especially in light of today’s significant intellectual, social, and ecological shifts. EW has been described by academics and scholar–practitioners as an “emerging field of scholarly inquiry,” a “benchmark” in planning and design, a “domain of knowledge,” and a “new framework for landscape and urban planning” (Fu et al. 2016; Liao and Chan 2016; Wang et al. 2016; Xaing 2014; Young 2016a). While most prominent in the fields of urban and regional landscape architecture and planning, I posit EW’s potential as a discourse encompassing the realms of material science, civil engineering, architecture, anthropology, philosophy, psychology, political and urban ecology, and a wide range of other disciplines. Responding to the epochal challenges facing our society and life itself, EW draws upon history, science, spirit, culture, and place in its development. Accordingly, it offers a compelling discourse to guide society toward a more meaningful and successful role within the ecosphere and in realizing its own possibilities.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Carnegie A (1889) Wealth. North Am Rev 148(391):653–655
Dryzek J (1997) The politics of the Earth: environmental discourses. Oxford University Press, New York
Dryzek J (1990) Deliberative democracy: politics, policy and political science.
Eisenman T, Murray T (2016) An integral lens on Patrick Geddes. Landscape Urban Plann 166:43–54
Fan H (2008) Ecological wisdom of technology and ethics. J Jianga Adm Inst 40:17–23
Foucault M (1980) Power/knowledge: selected interviews and other writings, 1972–1977. Harvest, Brighton
Fu X, Wang W, Schock C, Stuckert T (2016) Ecological wisdom as benchmark in planning and design. Landscape Urban Plann 155:75–90
Fukuyama F (1989) The end of history? Nat Interest 16:3–18
Gugerell SH, Riffert F (2011) On defining “wisdom”: Baltes, Ardelt, Ryan, and Whitehead. Interchange 42(3)
Leopold A (1949) A sand county Almanac. Oxford University Press, New York
Liao K, Chan J (2016) What is ecological wisdom and how does it relate to ecological knowledge? Landscape Urban Plann 155:111–113
Marx K, Engels F (1976) Feuerbach. In: Opposition of the materialist and idealist outlooks. New York: International Publishers
McHarg I (1969) Design with nature. Doubleday Press, Garden City, New York
McPhee J (1998) [1981] Basin and range. In: Annals of the former World, p 77
Patten D (2016) The role of ecological wisdom in managing for sustainable interdependent urban and natural ecosystems. Landscape Urban Plann 155:3–10
Steiner F (2016) The application of ecological knowledge requires a pursuit of wisdom. Landscape Urban Plann 155
Taleb N (2010) The black swan: the impact of the highly improbable, 2nd edn. Penguin Press, London
Wang X, Xaing W (2016) Ecological wisdom for urban sustainability: doing real and permanent good in ecological practice. Landscape Urban Plann 155:1–2
Wang X, Palazzo D, Carper M (2016) Ecological wisdom as an emerging foeld of scholarly inquiry in urban planning and design. Landscape Urban Plann 155:100–107
Xaing W (2014) Doing real and permanent good in landscape and urban planning: ecological wisdom for urban sustainability. Landscape Urban Plann 121:65–69
Xaing W (2016) Ecophronesis: the ecological practical wisdom for and from ecological practice. Landscape Urban Plann 155:53–60
Yang B, Li S (2016) Design with nature: Ian McHarg’s ecological wisdom as actionable and practical knowledge. Landscape Urban Plann 155:27–32
Young R (2016a) Modernity, postmodernity, and ecological wisdom: towards a new framework for landscape and urban planning. Landscape Urban Plann 155:91–99
Young R (2016b) The biophilic city and the quest for paradise. J Smart Sustain Built Environ 5(1):25–46
Young R, Clavel P (2016) Planning living cities: Patrick Geddes’ legacy in the new millennium. Landscape Urban Plann 155:1–3
Young R et al (2017) The Santa Cruz project: internal development report to the municipality of Santa Cruz, Madeira Island. JH Press, Sesimbra
Zhang L, Yang Z, Voinov A, Gao S (2016) Nature-inspired stormwater management practice: the ecological wisdom underlying the Tuanchen drainage system in Beijing, China and its contemporary relevance. Landscape Urban Plann 155:11–20
Zhao JL, Xu YQ (2010) Ecological wisdom inspired from termite mounds. Analysis on biomimetic design of Zimbabwe Eastgate Center. Build Sci 2
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Young, R. (2019). Introduction: Ecological Wisdom as Discourse. In: Yang, B., Young, R. (eds) Ecological Wisdom. EcoWISE. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0571-9_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0571-9_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-0570-2
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-0571-9
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)