Environmental Realism and Social Constructivism

We learned about two contrasting perspectives on the relationship between humans and the environment.

1) Environmental realism:

View nature as an objective reality.

Emphasizes the importance of scientific reasoning in understanding environmental issues.

It posits that environmental problems and the natural world exist independently of human consciousness and are materialistic. 

2) Social Constructivism

Our understanding of environmental problems is socially constructed and shaped by cultural, political, and economic factors.

It emphasizes the role of social processes, power relations, and human agency, including the media, in shaping environmental issues. 

Environmental crises: Climate change

A realist perspective focuses on the scientific evidence of rising global temperatures and sea levels, arguing that these are objective facts regardless of human beliefs or interpretations. 

A constructivist perspective Analyzes how scientific knowledge is framed, how different groups are affected by climate change, and how these factors shape political responses.