Author Type

Undergraduate Student

Date of Award

12-2017

Document Type

Capstone

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

June 2026

Department

Philosophy

College Granting Degree

Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters

Department Granting Degree

Department of Philosophy

Degree Name

Honors in Major

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Marina Banchetti

Additional Committee Member 1

Clevis Headley

Abstract

Earth’s environment has been undergoing unprecedented rates of degradation during the Anthropocene paradigm. Current projections for the near future show climate change producing grim outcomes for most habitable parts of the world. This thesis defends the argument that in order to adequately address the state of the environment, humanity must experience a shift in collective consciousness away from the current philosophical paradigm, and instead adopt a paradigm that enables a common mindset regarding the place of humans within the natural environment. Various forms of spiritual ecology are explored: deep ecology, biblical eco-theology, and eco-feminist theology. These positions are explored in order to introduce a framework necessary to achieve the collective shift in consciousness required to address environmental issues: a Spiritual Framework of Organic Oneness, which includes components of spiritual ecology and earth-centered religious traditions.

Download

Included in

Philosophy Commons

Share

COinS