20
human condition. It is, however, possible to claim that environmentalism is based
on an implicit truth: the separation of Mind from Nature.
2.3 Citizenship
If ecologism entails people living sustainably, certain commitments of citizenship
follow including finding a balance between maintaining individual rights and a
responsibility towards the common good.
Within a democratic society, Johnson and Morris (2010) distinguish between
three types of ‘citizen’ (Table 2.1).
1. The citizen who is personally responsible and obedient to laws and acts responsibly but does not actively question the norms of society
2. The citizen who is participative but tends to act as an individual
3. The socially responsible citizen motivated by a concern for social justice and
who can identify obstacles which need to be overcome to attain a fairer society
and cooperates with others in enacting change
It is the socially responsible citizen that coheres with an ecologist perspective. In
characterising this form of citizenship, we use the term ‘green citizenship’.
Socially responsible citizens have an active and committed engagement to pursuing a certain way of life consistent with a more sustainable society: their duty is to
live sustainably so that others may live well; they consider themselves under an
obligation to act justly. In doing so, their responsibilities are global and extend
beyond species and international boundaries.
A green republican perspective (Barry 2008) combines a judicious balance
between rights and responsibilities, maintaining a variety of views on the public
good, but also cherishes individual freedoms and common practices. It encompasses
a commitment to individual agency: the choice of rationally justifiable action based
on personal and social circumstances, with a critical understanding of the structural
Table 2.1 Types of citizen
Type of
citizen
Personally
responsible
(liberal/passive)
Participative
Socially responsible (republican/active)
(green citizen)
Characteristic Behaves
responsibly
without
questioning why
Behaves
responsibly and
takes action
Critically reflects on social justice and
takes action accordingly
Example
Recycles waste
Distributes
leaflets on
recycling
Discusses with others in local forums
whether recycling scheme saves energy
and negotiates as to how best improve
recycling scheme for benefit of
community
R. Levinson et al.
human condition. It is, however, possible to claim that environmentalism is based
on an implicit truth: the separation of Mind from Nature.
2.3 Citizenship
If ecologism entails people living sustainably, certain commitments of citizenship
follow including finding a balance between maintaining individual rights and a
responsibility towards the common good.
Within a democratic society, Johnson and Morris (2010) distinguish between
three types of ‘citizen’ (Table 2.1).
1. The citizen who is personally responsible and obedient to laws and acts responsibly but does not actively question the norms of society
2. The citizen who is participative but tends to act as an individual
3. The socially responsible citizen motivated by a concern for social justice and
who can identify obstacles which need to be overcome to attain a fairer society
and cooperates with others in enacting change
It is the socially responsible citizen that coheres with an ecologist perspective. In
characterising this form of citizenship, we use the term ‘green citizenship’.
Socially responsible citizens have an active and committed engagement to pursuing a certain way of life consistent with a more sustainable society: their duty is to
live sustainably so that others may live well; they consider themselves under an
obligation to act justly. In doing so, their responsibilities are global and extend
beyond species and international boundaries.
A green republican perspective (Barry 2008) combines a judicious balance
between rights and responsibilities, maintaining a variety of views on the public
good, but also cherishes individual freedoms and common practices. It encompasses
a commitment to individual agency: the choice of rationally justifiable action based
on personal and social circumstances, with a critical understanding of the structural
Table 2.1 Types of citizen
Type of
citizen
Personally
responsible
(liberal/passive)
Participative
Socially responsible (republican/active)
(green citizen)
Characteristic Behaves
responsibly
without
questioning why
Behaves
responsibly and
takes action
Critically reflects on social justice and
takes action accordingly
Example
Recycles waste
Distributes
leaflets on
recycling
Discusses with others in local forums
whether recycling scheme saves energy
and negotiates as to how best improve
recycling scheme for benefit of
community
R. Levinson et al.