Nature vs. culture in sustainable environmental management

Abstract

The material of this study includes literature on the historically bound nature of the ideographical nature vs. culture polarity. From this material, general concepts of "nature" and "culture" are formed on the basis of value in the context of environmental management. Then, the existence of a polar dualism (nature vs. culture) is indicated via a transcendental critique of the worldview underlying the construction of this relationship. It is shown that the polarity is asymmetrical, causing a hierarchical organization in the Western ontology. The nature/culture hierarchical polarity is subjected to a less radical deconstruction and a non-dualistic, less reductionist conception of "nature" and "culture" formulated. This enables a foresee ably sustainable environment in terms of quality of life of the human being in totality.