Ecological Civilization is the Chinese Wisdom and Chinese Plan …
453
giving rise to ecological Marxism. Meanwhile, process philosophers and
constructive post-modern thinkers in the US, represented by Doctor John
B Cobb Jr., deeply reflected on the ecological crisis caused by unbridled global development. During the study, they combined Whitehead’s
organic philosophy with classical Marxism, especially traditional Chinese
culture, and put forth the nascent school of Organic Marxism. According
to Doctor Cobb, of all Marxist schools in the west, organic Marxism was
the only one so far with distinct cultural elements from China. In this sense,
organic Marxism is neither a western nor a Chinese school, but a new international Marxism. According to organic Marxism, the real root of ecological crisis is modernity, especially the obsession with unlimited economic
growth it contains, namely the pursuit for high-speed growth, which is
exactly what organic Marxism opposes. In his Organic Marxism, Philip
Clayton rolled out four principles of organic Marxism and sustainable
development, including common good, organic and ecological thinking,
caring for disadvantaged strata, and long-term and comprehensive viewpoint—all containing profound elements of ecological civilization. He
also summarized the “ten ideas of saving the planet” generalized by Dr.
Cobb, which could shed light on China’s efforts of ecological civilization.
The book For the Common Good co-authored by Cobb and Herman Daly
elaborates on such new concepts as “common good” economics, ecological economics and sustainable economics from the broadest perspective
of the entire biosphere on earth. There is no doubt that organic Marxism
focuses on global ecological crisis, social crisis, cultural crisis and the
reconstruction of environmental philosophy.
In general, the western thoughts such as Gaia hypothesis, process philosophy,
deep ecology and organic Marxism mostly revolve around organic entirety, internal
correlation, generation and development and pluralistic co-existence, and take an
organic view of the earth as a network of lives. These thoughts carry deep-rooted
ecological ideas, view nature and man in a whole, ongoing and sustainable light,
and are ecological, organic and even grassroots in essence. That’s why it is said that
China’s fine traditional culture provides the soil and root for ecological civilization,
while the west’s fine thoughts and culture nurture it with plantation and nutrition.
3 Ecological Civilization is the Chinese Expression
of Sustainable Development
Sustainable development is “development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” As a new
outlook on development, it is created in adaptation to the changes of time and the
needs of social and economic development, and is the outcome of people’s reflection
on their path since entering industrial civilization. The 1972 UN Conference on the
453
giving rise to ecological Marxism. Meanwhile, process philosophers and
constructive post-modern thinkers in the US, represented by Doctor John
B Cobb Jr., deeply reflected on the ecological crisis caused by unbridled global development. During the study, they combined Whitehead’s
organic philosophy with classical Marxism, especially traditional Chinese
culture, and put forth the nascent school of Organic Marxism. According
to Doctor Cobb, of all Marxist schools in the west, organic Marxism was
the only one so far with distinct cultural elements from China. In this sense,
organic Marxism is neither a western nor a Chinese school, but a new international Marxism. According to organic Marxism, the real root of ecological crisis is modernity, especially the obsession with unlimited economic
growth it contains, namely the pursuit for high-speed growth, which is
exactly what organic Marxism opposes. In his Organic Marxism, Philip
Clayton rolled out four principles of organic Marxism and sustainable
development, including common good, organic and ecological thinking,
caring for disadvantaged strata, and long-term and comprehensive viewpoint—all containing profound elements of ecological civilization. He
also summarized the “ten ideas of saving the planet” generalized by Dr.
Cobb, which could shed light on China’s efforts of ecological civilization.
The book For the Common Good co-authored by Cobb and Herman Daly
elaborates on such new concepts as “common good” economics, ecological economics and sustainable economics from the broadest perspective
of the entire biosphere on earth. There is no doubt that organic Marxism
focuses on global ecological crisis, social crisis, cultural crisis and the
reconstruction of environmental philosophy.
In general, the western thoughts such as Gaia hypothesis, process philosophy,
deep ecology and organic Marxism mostly revolve around organic entirety, internal
correlation, generation and development and pluralistic co-existence, and take an
organic view of the earth as a network of lives. These thoughts carry deep-rooted
ecological ideas, view nature and man in a whole, ongoing and sustainable light,
and are ecological, organic and even grassroots in essence. That’s why it is said that
China’s fine traditional culture provides the soil and root for ecological civilization,
while the west’s fine thoughts and culture nurture it with plantation and nutrition.
3 Ecological Civilization is the Chinese Expression
of Sustainable Development
Sustainable development is “development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” As a new
outlook on development, it is created in adaptation to the changes of time and the
needs of social and economic development, and is the outcome of people’s reflection
on their path since entering industrial civilization. The 1972 UN Conference on the