Environmentalism is Anti-Humanism

Joshua Mawhorter discusses how certain environmentalist ideologies perceive human existence and production as detrimental to the environment. It critiques a shift in environmental thought shaped by postmodern philosophies and critiques socialism, leading to harmful attitudes towards humanity.

1. The Shift from Socialism to Environmentalism:

• After socialism's failure, Left-liberal thinkers turned to postmodernism as a way to retain socialist ideas while addressing its failures.

• Environmentalism emerged as a new method to criticize capitalism, presenting human activity as inherently harmful to the planet.

2. Modern Environmentalism and Human Exploitation:

• Traditional environmental thoughts focused on improving human life through cleaner environments; however, modern critiques view human development as a form of exploitation and alienation of nature.

• This new perspective sees economic growth and environmental health as fundamentally opposed, positioning capitalism as harmful to the environment.

3. Radical Egalitarianism and Deep Ecology:

• The shift in environmental thinking promotes the equality of all life forms, suggesting that humans have no inherent superiority over other species, which contradicts traditional Marxist thought that valued human progress.

• Deep ecology proposes radical equality among species, moving away from human-centered ideologies.

4. Anti-Impact Framework:

• Many modern thinkers propose an "anti-impact" philosophy where minimal to no human interaction with nature is considered the moral standard. This view implies that human existence itself is a problem.

• Such an ideology leads to guilt over consumption and a desire for lifestyle restrictions to minimize environmental impact.

5. Consequences of Anti-Human Views:

• Holding an anti-impact philosophy consistently could logically lead to policies that advocate for a reduction in human populations or even suggest that humans should not exist to protect the environment.

• Proponents of the anti-impact philosophy may not act on their beliefs consistently, but the ideology causes guilt and compliance with restrictive environmental policies.

6. Environmentalism's Coherence with Central Planning:

• The alignment between environmentalism and central planning is evident, as policies may dictate how individuals live and interact with their environment.

• Historical figures and groups have expressed extreme anti-human sentiments in relation to environmental concerns, labeling humanity as a ‘cancer’ on the Earth.

7. The Declaration of Guilt:

• Some discussions in modern spirituality emphasize humans confessing their ‘sins’ against nature, further propagating the idea that human existence is culpable in environmental degradation.

• Prominent figures have publicly entertained the idea of reducing human population drastically as a solution to environmental issues.

8. Anti-Humanism in Environmental Discourse:

• Consistent themes in environmental rhetoric indicate that humanity often needs ‘saving’ from itself, a perspective that can dangerously prioritize nature over human life.

• The text emphasizes that extreme environmentalism can lead to policies that ignore the value of human life and freedom.

The article argues that modern environmentalism has adopted anti-human principles, viewing human existence and activity as inherently negative. It criticizes the shift in environmental philosophy that prioritizes non-human interests and promotes a guilt-ridden narrative about human impact on nature. The author warns that such views lead to policies that may harm humanity itself in the pursuit of environmental goals. The piece calls into question the ethical foundations of radical environmentalism and its compatibility with human flourishing. 

https://mises.org/mises-wire/environmentalism-anti-humanism