Author: Koushik Mishra
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.70798/Bijmrd/03070011
Abstract: This research undertakes a profound exploration of the philosophical foundations of Deep Ecology—a contemporary environmental ethic—and seeks to illuminate its striking consonance with the ancient nondualistic (Advaita) worldview articulated within India’s sacred scriptures. Originating with Arne Næss in 1973, Deep Ecology asserts the intrinsic value and equal significance of all living and non-living entities in the natural world, challenging anthropocentric perspectives that prioritize human interests above those of other beings. Far from being a novel or isolated ideology, this ethical vision resonates deeply with the timeless Vedic understanding of the cosmos as a unified whole, where apparent diversity is but an expression of an underlying singular reality.
By drawing extensively from the Rigveda, the Upanishads, and other classical Indian texts, this study aims to reveal how the core ethical imperatives of Deep Ecology—such as biocentric equality, ecological interdependence, and the dissolution of the self-other divide—are fundamentally embedded in India’s spiritual and philosophical traditions. The Vedic ethos, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of all life and the sacredness of the natural world, provides a rich and nuanced framework that both complements and enriches modern ecological thought. In doing so, this research not only traces the continuity between ancient wisdom and contemporary environmental ethics but also underscores the enduring relevance of Indian philosophy as a source of inspiration and guidance for addressing the pressing ecological challenges of our time.
Keywords: Deep Ecology, Advaita Vedanta, Intrinsic Value of Nature, Vedic Philosophy, Non-dualism, Ecological Ethics.
Page No: 100-105