The Scales Integral to Ecology: Hierarchies in <i>Laudato Si’</i> and Christian Ecological Ethics
Pope Francis’s <i>Laudato Si’</i> advocates for an “ecological conversion” to the ideal of “integral ecology”. In so doing, it offers insights into different scales of moral attention, resonating with sophisticated thinking in s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/9/511 |
| _version_ | 1818249327618818048 |
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| author | Kevin J. O’Brien |
| author_facet | Kevin J. O’Brien |
| author_sort | Kevin J. O’Brien |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pope Francis’s <i>Laudato Si’</i> advocates for an “ecological conversion” to the ideal of “integral ecology”. In so doing, it offers insights into different scales of moral attention, resonating with sophisticated thinking in scientific ecology and environmental ethics. From the encyclical, Christian ecological ethicists can learn about the importance of identifying spatial and temporal scales in moral terms and the usefulness of hierarchical levels that distinguish between local, community, and global concerns. However, the encyclical assumes some hierarchical relationships—among genders, among species, and with the divine—that it does not question. Scalar thinking is a key strength of <i>Laudato Si’</i> and also a signal of the work it leaves undone regarding the constructedness and limitations of all hierarchical assumptions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T15:34:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d19658b9170b4aa9b7766f8825818409 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T15:34:44Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-d19658b9170b4aa9b7766f88258184092022-12-22T00:20:02ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442019-09-0110951110.3390/rel10090511rel10090511The Scales Integral to Ecology: Hierarchies in <i>Laudato Si’</i> and Christian Ecological EthicsKevin J. O’Brien0Department of Religion, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA 98447, USAPope Francis’s <i>Laudato Si’</i> advocates for an “ecological conversion” to the ideal of “integral ecology”. In so doing, it offers insights into different scales of moral attention, resonating with sophisticated thinking in scientific ecology and environmental ethics. From the encyclical, Christian ecological ethicists can learn about the importance of identifying spatial and temporal scales in moral terms and the usefulness of hierarchical levels that distinguish between local, community, and global concerns. However, the encyclical assumes some hierarchical relationships—among genders, among species, and with the divine—that it does not question. Scalar thinking is a key strength of <i>Laudato Si’</i> and also a signal of the work it leaves undone regarding the constructedness and limitations of all hierarchical assumptions.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/9/511Christian ethicsecologyscalehierarchyintegral ecology<i>Laudato Si’</i>Pope Francis |
| spellingShingle | Kevin J. O’Brien The Scales Integral to Ecology: Hierarchies in <i>Laudato Si’</i> and Christian Ecological Ethics Religions Christian ethics ecology scale hierarchy integral ecology <i>Laudato Si’</i> Pope Francis |
| title | The Scales Integral to Ecology: Hierarchies in <i>Laudato Si’</i> and Christian Ecological Ethics |
| title_full | The Scales Integral to Ecology: Hierarchies in <i>Laudato Si’</i> and Christian Ecological Ethics |
| title_fullStr | The Scales Integral to Ecology: Hierarchies in <i>Laudato Si’</i> and Christian Ecological Ethics |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Scales Integral to Ecology: Hierarchies in <i>Laudato Si’</i> and Christian Ecological Ethics |
| title_short | The Scales Integral to Ecology: Hierarchies in <i>Laudato Si’</i> and Christian Ecological Ethics |
| title_sort | scales integral to ecology hierarchies in i laudato si i and christian ecological ethics |
| topic | Christian ethics ecology scale hierarchy integral ecology <i>Laudato Si’</i> Pope Francis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/9/511 |
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