Revisiting Shea on ecophilosophy: An interrogation of “dominance” in ecophilosophy

Abstract

This article explores ecophilosophy and aims to redefine humanity’s relationship with “nature”, emphasising a holistic and egalitarian approach between the living and non-living entities. While ecophilosophy advocates for a harmonious interaction with the natural world, Nancy Huffman Shea critiques its foundational assumptions, arguing that ecophilosophy suffers from ambiguity and self-deception. She argues that ecophilosophy’s conceptualisation of “nature” is ambiguous and self-deceptive due to its failure to dismantle the structures of “dominance” that it claims to challenge, instead subtly perpetuating them. This article builds on Shea’s critique, examining the internal conflicts in ecophilosophy, and arguing that to promote equality and symbiosis successfully, ecophilosophy must rid itself of all hierarchical thinking and dominance. Ultimately, I argue that ecophilosophy must clearly define its principles and avoid idealised views of “nature” to overcome its internal contradictions and achieve its goal of equality.