Climate on the Couch:Unconscious Processes In Relation To Our Environmental Crisis

摘要

This revised lecture is an exploration of our psychological attitudes underly-ing climate change and ecological crisis. The central question is whether psychologicalinsights can contribute to the collective change we need to make towards sustainable living.Part One explores two major myths that underpin Western culture: The Myth of the Falland The Myth of Progress. Our readings of these stories keep us trapped in destructiveways of living. In particular, Western culture has developed a long-held fear of wild nature,both inner and outer. Civilization is experienced as a defence against nature. This standsin contrast to an indigenous worldview, where humans respect the balance that needs tobe kept between humans and the rest of nature. How do we find a way of working withnature in this modern age? Part Two explores our personal responses to, and fantasiesabout, sustainable living. Consumerism has become an opiate of the people, in order tosubdue our wild internal nature. Such an addictive relationship blocks us from thinking,and prevents us from taking action. Recovery involves reinhabiting our bodies, developingwhat Naess describes as an ecological identity. Part Three explores how these issues mightenter into our work as therapists and how we might respond. Copyright