STUDY QUESTIONS ON EDWARD ABBEY AND ECOTAGE

 

As Word document

 

“Eco-Defense,” One Life At a Time, Please, 29-32

1. Do you agree that it is the right and obligation of the householder to defend herself, her family, and her property by any means necessary (a question of value) (29)? That self-defense is a basic law of life itself (a question of philosophy of nature) (29)? Do you agree that the American wilderness is undergoing such an assault (a question of fact) (29)? Do you agree that “wilderness is our ancestral home, the primordial homeland of all living creatures” (30)? If someone says yes to both, does that justify people defending the wilderness by any means necessary (a question of logic) (29)?

 

2. Do you agree that representative government in the U.S. has broken down, that it represent commercial-industrial interests, and thus has forfeited our allegiance and moral support (30)?

 

3. Who is the “we” in the sentence “We are the majority; they—the powerful—are in the minority” (31)? Do you agree with this assessment? Why or why not?

 

4. How do you respond to his characterization of eco-defense near the bottom of page 31? Do you support his perspective? Do you see problems with it? Why?

 

 

Hargrove, Abbey, Foreman debate, Radical Environmentalism, 250-255

1. What exactly does Hargrove object to in The Monkey Wrench Gang and Earth First!? Look for several positions he takes against them. Don’t go into why he holds them yet, just what positions he takes.

 

2. Why does Hargrove hold these positions? “Why” refers to three things:

  • Objections
    • to values held by the opponent
    • to logical reasoning used by the opponent
    • to concrete consequences: what will or might result in society or to individuals
  • Support, which involves
    • Evidence
    • Argument
    • Authority
  • Basis, an often unstated foundation for one’s views, which involves
    • Basic values (concerning the value of nature, how nature operates, the nature of society, our relation to nature, human nature, etc.)
    • Assumptions (about the current situation, history, ecology – including how bad the current situation is – philosophy and activism, etc.)
    • Definitions of key terms (e.g. civil disobedience, terrorism, nature chauvinism)
    • Categories

3. What are Abbey’s responses to Hargrove? Start out just making a list, and then go back and analyze his views. Now analyze why Abbey holds these views.

 

4. What are Foreman’s responses to Hargrove? Start out just making a list, and then go back and analyze his views. Now analyze why Foreman holds these views.

 

5. How does Hargrove respond to Abbey and Foreman? Why does he make these responses?

 

6. What is your view of ecotage and the actions of Earth First! and similar groups? What types of direct actions are appropriate and not? Which actions are effective and ineffective? Be able to state why you hold those views.

 

 

 

 

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Last updated: March 14, 2007