Bookchin's Main Ideas in The Ecology of Freedom

Domination of human by human is the root of the idea that humans should dominate nature. Bookchin argues that the concept of dominating nature arose from hierarchical social structures where humans dominate other humans. Social ecology is distinct from environmentalism. He defines environmentalism as a mechanistic approach that seeks to manage nature for human use without questioning the premise of human domination. In contrast, social ecology is concerned with understanding the dynamic balance of nature and humanity's role in it. He is critical of attempts to reduce the complexity of nature to a simplistic “oneness”. Hierarchy is not a natural ordering principle. Bookchin argues that natural ecosystems are non-hierarchical and that hierarchy is a social construct that is harmful to both society and nature. Social ecology challenges the traditional distinction between the realms of necessity and freedom. He argues that this distinction is a social ideology that justifies exploitation…