Ecology: a dialogue of science and ethics

Abstract

The word "ecology" is heard more and more often today: human ecology, social ecology, ecology of industry and technology, ecological monitoring, ecological danger, ecological crisis, ecological policy, ecological education and upbringing, ecological ethics, etc. The scope of use of the term is becoming more and more widespread and is echoed in everyday life.

"Bad ecology is increasingly threatening health and life," say doctors. "Damn ecology has destroyed all fruits and vegetables," complains the grandmother at the bazaar. "We will improve the environment," we are warmly assured on the eve of the election. "Ecology has taken us by the throat," complain the owners of industrial enterprises that pollute our natural environment. "We must form a proper ecology of the soul," educators make decisions, and the Church begins to talk about ecological sin and the need for ecological conversion.

Such "popularity", which is manifested in the increasing, ambiguous and versatile use of the term "ecology" (admittedly, often far from scientific), is not only a certain new fashion, but rather an indicator of the general "greening" of various spheres of life and activities of modern civilization in the face of the threat of global environmental crisis.