Dialectical social ecology is an anti-authoritarian social and ethical frame of analysis, critique, and lived action [praxis] that centers the need to overcome the scientific facts of ecological crisis and mass extinction as its starting premises. Its primary method of inquiry aims to be radically dialectical. It investigates the broadly social roots of ecological dislocation–be they economic, institutional, ethotic [from ethos], ideological, material, or otherwise–as blockages to overcoming ecological crisis and extinction in order to support the health and flourishing of all life on Earth.
Dialectical social ecology maintains that the only sufficiently ecological human society is simultaneously the liberated human community. As such, and contrary to orthodox anarchism, dialectical social ecology centers domination* in all forms as the primary barrier to human, species, and ecosystemic flourishing.
The politico-geographic location of dialectical social ecology resides on the far-, radical, or revolutionary libertarian ecosocialist left. It takes inspiration from Élisée Reclus in recognizing that “humanity is nature becoming conscious of itself,” with all the ethical and obligatory imperative this implies, and seeks to foster a culture of health and love of life, from the individual (both mentally and physically), to the interpersonal, to the communal, and outward into the relationship between humanity and the rest of the natural world.
Currently under construction, this website will be a central resource to aid in the development of a dialectical social ecology. We aim to post writings, interviews, videos, lectures, as well as host conferences and launch a semi-regular online journal in order to advance and bring awareness to this emerging radical ecophilosophy. A weekly study group is currently underway.
*As in contrast to orthodox anarchism, which often uncritically rejects all forms of hierarchy and authority outright without acknowledging its non-dominating or benign forms: e.g. the hierarchy of teacher/pupil, or the authority of expertise (those who are authorities given their skill or knowledge, rather than those who have authority over others).