20th WCP: Sozology and Ecophilosophy: Sciences of the 20th Century

Introduction

The present article aims to present a synthesis of the characteristic features of epistemological sozology (1) and ecophilosophy (2) as sciences of the end of the twentieth century.

The profile of sozology will take into account above all an analysis of the concepts involved in this science, a construction of its definition, a description of its object of study and an indication of the characteristic features of sozological scientific research — especially interdisciplinariness and systematicity.

On the other hand in the profile of ecophilosophy it is necessary to take into account its various conceptions, define the object of study and outline the content-related problems.

1.1 The understanding of sozology

The term "sozology" comes form the Greek word ????? which means "to protect", "to rescue". Walery Goetel (1) introduced this term to Polish scientific terminology in 1965. According to him this term means the protection of the natural human environment. Thirty years have passed since then. The term "sozology" was enriched with a new content which thereby broadened its scope. An expression of this is the rich literature on the subject and this term is used more and more frequently to define sciences concerning environment protection.

In the word "sozology" two aspects are taken into consideration: the content and the scope. (2) In the connotational aspect the methodological and thematic elements of this name are indicated, but in the aspect concerning its scope the designations marking its range are pointed to.

From the methodological standpoint of the content of the name "sozology" people speak above all about methods serving to research the object of this science. Here the empirical, humanist, philosophical and systemic methods are distinguished.

From the thematic standpoint of the term "sozology" the questions and problems within the range of scientific sozological research are stressed. As an example problems and questions are mentioned here like:

— the factual description of the state of nature in Poland and the world;

— a definition of what is polluting and destroying the environment;

— conducting technological research with the aim of introducing purifying equipment and technology which is not a burden on the environment;

— studying the influence of a changed environment on live organisms and human beings;

— creating legal and administrative safeguards on a national and international scale with the aim of implementing environment protection programs;

— awakening a moral and ethical awareness sensitive to the quality of the natural and social environment;

— finding the means to decrease the pollution of the environment and eliminate the sources of its pollution;

— studying the influence of the environment on the human psyche;

— conducting medical research into new diseases which have arisen under the influence of a changed environment;

— safeguarding the so-called "pure" genetic reserves;

— education — on various levels of the education system — in the spirit of sensitivity to the value of the human natural environment.

The aspect of the name "sozology" concerning its scope covers problems and questions concerning the natural and social environments, which humanity inhabits. Therefore it concerns living and non-living nature and the anthroposphere.

All these areas are considered from the viewpoint of protecting the natural properties of specific parts of nature and their influence on the life and health of humanity. In this aspect, which is characteristic for sozology, is to be found the study of the natural properties of the living and non-living parts of nature. This research also concerns the newly arisen properties of the environment and their influence on the life and health of humanity, and also their influence on the biological condition of other species living on the Earth.

1.2. A definition of sozology

In the initial phase of the birth and development of a new science difficulties arise in defining it. Sozology too has not yet emerged from the initial phase of its development, despite the fact that the problems of environment protection had already been taken up in the 19th century, and it continues to contend with similar difficulties.

In this connection we are proposing the following definition of sozology:

"Sozology is the science of the systemic protection of the biosphere from the destructive effect on it of the anthroposphere."

In this formulation the following expressions used in this definition require explanation: "systemic protection", "biosphere", "anthroposphere", "destructive effects".

"Systemic protection" — this expression is connected with the systemic approach to scientific research, which is characterized by seeing the problems involved as a totality and at the same time indicates the feedback arising between the elements internal to the system and between the system and its environment in the sphere of science, technology, pedagogy and didactics.

The term "biosphere" means the space inhabited by living organisms.

The term "anthroposphere" means the whole space where the various human activities take place, which come into conflict with the biosphere and all its physical elements. These activities change the natural environment of life and cause structural genetic changes in some plants and animals, including humans; they also have an influence on the chemical and biological balance in the biosphere.

1.3. The object of study of sozology

The object of study of sozology in a general sense is the mutual interaction of the biosphere and the anthroposhere. (3) In traditional language this is the material object of study of this science. On the other hand the formal object of study of sozology is the protection of the biosphere from the destructive effects on it of the anthroposphere. This aspect of protection constitutes the specific features of sozology and its distinction from other sciences of the biosphere and anthroposphere.

The range of sozological research covers — using this characterization of its object of study — non-living and living nature, by which is understood the cosmo-bio-geographical environment of life, succumbing to the influence of the actions of the anthroposphere to undergo various changes , and sometimes complete destruction.

Within the scope of the object of study of sozology understood in such a way come plants and animals, their genetic structure and proper development, and also the developmental interference caused by the effects of the anthroposphere. The physical environment also belongs to the range of sozological research — in which the biosphere exists i.e. the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the lithosphere and the cosmosphere.

Among the questions concerning the biosphere it is necessary to enumerate the problems of a biological and biologico-genetic nature. However within the range of the anthroposphere the problems concerning the state of the biological and biologico-medical human populations in specific countries and on whole continents need to be stressed as do the problems which emerge alongside the development of sozotechnology, sozopsychology, sozoeconomy, ecological law, environmental ethics.

In connection with the destructive effects of the anthroposphere on the biosphere various problems appearing in connection with the following dangers are indicated:

— the physical environment of the biosphere;

— the biological environment;

— the life and health of humanity;

— life in small, medium sized, big and huge macroregions;

— specific populations, and even whole species or breeds, both of fauna and flora;

— the landscape, groups of plants and animals.

Having all of this in mind it is necessary to stress once again, that the object of sozological research is the influence of human activity on nature and the ways and means of protecting it.

1.4. The specific features of sozological research

Interdiscplinariness and systemism (4) belong to the specific features of scientific sozological research.

Bearing in mind the premise of the unity of sciences, especially the unity of their logical structure, the use of a unified system of logical methods in them, which constitutes the most permanent feature of contemporary science, and the influence of some research work on other research work and their mutual dependence, it becomes clear that interdisciplinariness is an indispensable feature of the processes scientifically creating sozology and at the same time confirms the supposed unity of the sciences.

Scientific sozological problems make interdisciplinary research a necessary thing in sozology — because their solution requires cooperation with the following sciences: ecology, geology, economics, technical sciences, ethics and pedagogy. Out of the cooperation between sozology, a science in the process of formation, and the sciences enumerated above, new areas of science are born such as sozotechnology, sozoeconomics, sozopsychology, sozoethics or environmental ethics and ecological or sozological law.

In general one can say that the problems of sozology arise in many sciences and its specific problems occur in such disciplines as: medical science, biological science, Earth sciences and spatial planning, technical science, economic science, legal and administrative science, social and humanist science. It is necessary to add in this place that faced with sozology's scientific problems philosophical and teleological science cannot remain indifferent.

Research in the field of sozology, as a science of the systemic protection of the biosphere from the effects of the anthroposphere on it, of necessity requires an interdisciplinary and systemic approach to its object of study, in order to solve its emerging problems thoroughly and comprehensively. Systemism in sozological scientific research makes possible the theoretical understanding of the protection of the socio-natural environment and provides a basis for practical systemic activities within the range of ways and means of protecting this environment. In addition this science has a character unifying research in the fields of many scientific disciplines. Theories may arise on its terrain, consolidating the achievements of various sciences.

2.1. The conceptions of ecophilosophy

The conceptions of philosophical science are connected with general philosophical premises, on the basis of which an epistemological and methodological statute of a given philosophical science is worked out. There is a similar situation in ecophilosophy as well. In the last years of the twentieth century scientifically significant conceptions of ecophilosophy have already been delineated. In this place we are not conducting a detailed analysis of specific conceptions of ecophilosophy, but are only making a register and short characterization of them.

1. Ecophilosophy as the philosophy of ecology (5) — the expression "philosophy of ecology" in its basic meaning functions in the philosophy of science and means the theory and methodology of ecology. In the last decades of the twentieth century this expression includes within its content and scope many elements from broadly understood problems of philosophy and environment protection. An example of such an understanding is the work of Zbigniew Hull.

2. Ecophilosophy as the ecology of humanity (6) — the "ecology of humanity", a term used by Napoleon Wolañski to define the synthesis of the results of scientific research in the fields of natural anthropology, ecology and medical science. In this formulation there is an extensive range of anthropological questions and reflections of a philosophical character.

3. Ecophilosophy as humanist ecology (8) — in Stanis³aw Ziêba's declaration — is to conduct scientific research in its specifically human and personal aspect.

4. Ecophilosophy as deep ecology8 — this conception includes philosophical questions not only in setting but also in solving particular problems connected with the ecological crisis and catastrophes and with the moral crisis of humanity.

5. Ecophilosophy as ecological philosophy (9) — an expression introduced by Henry Skolimowski, in contrast to such an expression as "logical philosophy", which already functions in scientific terminology, and may in time legitimate itself in philosophical language.

6. Ecophilosophy as ecosophy (10) — is built on the philosophy connected with pantheistic tendencies — both historical and contemporary and based on the premises of deep ecology.

7. Ecophilosophy as the philosophy of the ecological crisis (11) — this orientation concerns above all ethical, legal, political and economic questions connected with he ecological crisis and ecology as a new political paradigm.

8. Ecophilosophy as a system-informational formulation of ecodevelopment (12) — such a formulation of the question, contained in the work of Les³aw Michnowski, finds its justification in the forecast of the development of humanity and of the premises of balanced ecodevelopment.

9. Ecophilosophy as universalist ecology (13) — it arises in the context understood as universalist philosophy, or in other words universalism, as metaphilosophy, presented in Poland in the works of Janusz Kuczyñski among others.

10. Ecophilosophy as the practical philosophy of nature (14) — this formulation accents above all the practical and bioethical questions connected with the ecological crisis.

11. Ecophilosophy as part of the philosophy of nature (15) — this conception is connected with the classical-Thomist understanding of the philosophy of nature, where already the philosophy of non-living nature (cosmophilosophy) is distinguished from the philosophy of living nature (biophilosophy) and the philosophy of the socio-natural environment (ecophilosophy).

12. Ecophilosophy as an independent philosophical science (16) — of a clearly defined epistemological and methodological statute.

2.2. The definition of the object of study of ecophilosophy

Every science has its prehistory. Similarly ecophilosophy already has its own prehistory — namely all the scholars occupying themselves with the threats to, and protection of, the socio-natural environment, especially the authors of the conceptions of this science mentioned above, are the precursors of ecophilosophy. The work and publications of these authors already constitute the history of a science which does not yet exist in the dictionaries and encyclopaedias — ecophilosophy.

Taking into account the present state of scientific research in the field of ecophilosophy, it is not possible today to state definitively the object of study of this science. However on the basis of the existing literature and the ongoing discussions at various symposiums and scientific conferences, one can accept a working definition of the object of ecophilosophy:

The object of study of ecophilosophy is the essence and nature of the socio-natural environment, its quantitative and qualitative properties and the mutual causal connections between the anthroposphere and biosphere.

Within the tendency of a defined historical thought scientific cognition in the field of ecophilosophy would tend towards the scientific cognition of the environment existing in fact and in reality; to the scientific cognition in the aspects of necessity and causality and not only chance; to the achievement of the justification of ecophilosophical theories with logical, ontological, real and causal (17) arguments. In other words : ecophilosophy is the science of the systemic formulation of the philosophical problems of the socio-natural environment.

2.3. The basic content-related problems of ecophilosophy

Of the metatheoretical problems of philosophy we mention only those which constitute the basic objective structure of this science. To it belong the general philosophical, anthropological, axiological and educational problems concerning the socio-natural environment together with the cultural environment.

The general philosophical problems of ecophilosophy (18) concern the essence and nature of the socio-natural environment, its quantitative and qualitative properties, the changes arising in these properties and the causal connections between the anthroposphere and the biosphere. Here we are concerned mainly with ascertaining the real state of the environment, the sources of the changes arising in this environment, its influence on the life and health of humanity, as well as seeking the philosophical basis for protecting this environment. The basis for conducting research in this field are the statistics of the detailed and anthropological natural sciences. The general philosophical problems taken up in ecophilosophy and the attempts to solve them are based in the methodological sense on a scientific picture of the socio-natural environment.

The anthropological problems of ecophilosophy (19) concern above all the philosophical questions linked to demography, ontogeny, anthropopressure, migration and with the structural elements of the anthroposphere, in which are included first of all science, technology, art and religion. The starting point for this kind of research are the statistics from natural, philosophical, social and cultural anthropology and from human ecology, sociotechnology, religious studies, philosophy and the history of science, history and the philosophy of culture. Taking on the philosophical, anthropological problems in ecophilosophy and the methods of solving them depend on the philosophical systems accepted. In our understanding we are dealing here above all with a system of philosophy of the classical Aristotelian-Thomist orientation.

The axiological problems of ecophilosophy (20) appear when value judgements are made on the life and health of humanity, of the environment. The basics of the value judgements are developed in the axiology or philosophy of existence. Within the framework of our conception of ecophilosophy we understand the life and the life and health of a person as the highest values, but not absolute ones. On the other hand the socio-natural environment is treated as a basic value and common good. The basis for such analyses in this case is the axiology or philosophy of existence, which is the basis for developing general ethics and environmental ethics, and even ecological legislation. It seems that scientific knowledge connected with the socio-natural environment and the worked out and accepted environmental ethics may become the basis for ecodevelopment.

The educational problems of ecophilosophy (21) concern above all the philosophical basis of proecological education, to be exact, sozological education in the family, in the school, the mass media, social organizations, religions and in the national education system in general. Forming an awareness sensitive to the value of the socio-natural environment also depends on teaching programs in children nurseries, primary and secondary schools and in higher education. In addition this is a task for all those who are aware of the quality of the present environment and its influence on life on our planet — and of its influence on the life and health of people in our homeland and in the whole world. It is a task not just for philosophers — as M. Barnier (22) writes — but for all those who have an influence on social awareness in the world.

Summary

To sum up I would like to express the hope that the discussion around the epistemological-methodological status of sozology and ecophilosophy will contribute to the development of a good metatheoretical basis for these sciences. Leaving aside all the logical reasons justifying the birth of sozology and ecophilosophy, it is necessary to stress once again the significance of these sciences as well in the ecological education system on the various levels of its implementation. Sozology understood systemically may contribute above all to sensitizing the school student and student in higher education to the significance and quality of the socio-natural environment. On the other hand in ecophilosophy philosophical underpinnings can be developed for: ecological education, ecological law, environmental ethics and human ecology. I would like to express here the hope that both these sciences will enter permanently into the world's education systems.