Description
An integral ecology
Book summary
In this brief and profound work, renowned Brazilian theologian and philosopher Leonardo Boff proposes a new paradigm for understanding our relationship with the planet. The author is not limited to the defense of the environment, but breaks down four dimensions of ecology: environmental, social, mental, and integral. Through these categories, the reader will discover that the ecological crisis is also a crisis of thought and human relationships. An essential text for those seeking a holistic vision that connects spirituality, social justice, and the care of the Earth.
What is it about?
Leonardo Boff, a key figure in liberation theology and a human rights activist, offers in this essay a reflection that goes beyond conventional environmentalism. The book is structured around the four ecologies that the author distinguishes. Environmental ecology addresses the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity. Social ecology focuses on human inequalities, poverty, and exclusion as faces of the same crisis. Mental ecology explores how our ideas, values, and worldviews determine our action on the world. Finally, integral ecology proposes a synthesis that unites all dimensions, inviting a deep change of consciousness that reconciles human beings with themselves, with others, and with nature.
Main themes
- The four dimensions of ecology: environmental, social, mental, and integral.
- The relationship between ecological crisis and social crisis.
- The role of spirituality and thought in the transformation of the development model.
- The need for a new civilizational paradigm based on care and cooperation.
- The contribution of the "Earth Charter" as a global ethical framework.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in ecological thought, spirituality committed to social justice, and contemporary philosophy. It is especially relevant for those seeking an integrative vision that does not separate the defense of the environment from the struggle for human dignity. It is also of great value to students and professionals in environmental sciences, theology, sociology, and social work.
What this book offers
- A broad and non-reductionist understanding of the current ecological crisis.
- Conceptual tools to analyze the interconnection between environmental and social problems.
- A proposal for inner change (mental ecology) as a basis for external action.
- A hopeful vision that invites personal and collective action based on care and responsibility.
Technical specifications
- Author: Boff, Leonardo
- Publisher: Khaf (Edelvives)
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Spirituality and religious experience, Ecological thought and ideology
- Collection: Expresarte
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: November 2020
- Number of pages: 77
- Weight: 100 g
Editorial review
An integral ecology condenses in a few pages the mature thought of one of the most lucid intellectuals of our time. Its main success is offering a clear and accessible theoretical framework for understanding that the ecological crisis is not a technical problem, but a crisis of meaning. The work is especially interesting for those seeking an approach that integrates spirituality, social justice, and ecology, without falling into simplifications. It is a brief but dense book that invites reflection and commitment.