Home as a Metaphor
Review:







change/dynamic ecosystem and problem of moral relativism
ecosystem resilience as result of maintaining biodiversity
need to consider the entire system
relationships key; relationships with individual creatures is possible; right
relationships crucial
nature is sacred
our conservation goals reflect more the sort of relationship we wish with the land,
our intention
what to do about exotic invasives
new development: compassionate conservation; Clough
Question:
What do we do when we are concerned with maintaining certain
populations/communities/ecosystems while at same time valuing individual
creatures (whether rocks, streams, animals or plants]?
examples of spotted owl vs barred owl; infectious bacteria and antibiotics
Some thoughts:
No such thing as an individual per se



individuals are communities of relationships and, often, communities of
creatures (e.g., a human being);
individuals apart from their supportive communities/habitats/ecosystems
are different than within them and may not survive without them
So, can’t consider individuals without considering them as part of larger
systems/communities
“Home” may be a metaphor encompassing the relational/systemic concepts that may help
us address our question. Consider a healthy home:
Home is a place where:
 all feel safe and supported
 individuals’ creativity and gifts can flourish – facilitates them becoming who they
“are”
 all are valued equally for who they are and respected and cherished
 all derive much of their meaning, self-identification, and development through
the home

the individuals play different roles, which are important to overall functioning
of the household and are recognized as such
Other aspects of home include:




the components of the home change over time – dynamic
it can fall apart in the face of some drastic change to its individuals or its
environment
it is hospitable
it is concerned with its larger community – it is outward facing
There are “two” types of situations in which homes need to make decisions about tradeoffs
between individuals:

decisions within the “normal”range
o e.g., should the mother take a job that involves moving the family?
o husband telecommutes
o her salary will be higher, with greater potential for professional growth
o their relatives live nearby now, but will be far away should they move
o one child is in high school
o another special needs child receives the professional help they need now;
uncertain if they will in the new location

decisions outside the “normal” range, decisions requiring drastic tradeoffs
threatening its very nature as “home”
A recreation/paraphrase of a poem from India:
Mother, who shall you deprive of food that the rest may live?
Anne, the weak one, who may die before she marries?
John, who is brave and makes everyone laugh?
Will, who can move to the city and get a job?
June, who may attract a wealthy suitor?
John, who works in the field and provides what food we have?
You, Mother, who cares for everyone and holds the family
together?
Decide, Mother, and kill a part of yourself.

Environmental problems consist of both types, but they may require different
approaches to address them

“Normal” decisions: some considerations
o need to know all members of household intimately and listen to them
o avoid situations that threaten the home’s resilience
o in the face of change, seek ways that can benefit all
o if this is impossible, seek to make restitution/compensate those
negatively affected
o provide love and support to those undergoing change
o know all the impacts of a change
o avoid situations that will cause change that threatens the household,
including ones that hold the potential for severely disruptive change

“Abnormal” situations
o seek to minimize impacts on the individuals and on the household as a
unit
o seek to change the circumstances surrounding the household, working
with others
o listen to all involved with compassion
Some possible examples:
If soil (bacteria and fungi, soil structure), water, wild plants and pollinators, herbs and
understory, are part of our forest “home,” then natural forest management/ecological
forestry may be more appropriate than typical industrial monoculture forestry. It mimics
forest structure and processes so that less drastic change occurs over a large area.
river basin planning