The Concepts of Sustainability and Environmentalism Are Much Older than You Think
We often think of sustainability and environmentalism as recent issues that have only surfaced in the last 50 years or so. Despite this misconception, the origin of both movements can be traced back centuries — all the way to ancient times. Frank Egerton, a historian, has spent years tracing the “prehistory” of ecology, which began in Ancient Greece with ideas sprouting from the brilliant minds of Herodotus, another historian, and Aristotle and Plato, well-known philosophers.
Ecological Sustainability in the Animal Kingdom
Aristotle’s writings alluded to many of his ecological observations. One such observation provided the basis for what we now refer to as symbiosis. The example that Aristotle gave described the symbiotic relationship between a clam and the little crab that lived inside of it; the crab protected the clam in exchange for nourishment.
While Aristotle’s findings were significant, it was Herodotus and Plato who identified the concept of balance in nature. Herodotus discovered that predatory animals gave birth to fewer offspring than their prey. He surmised that this prevented the food supply from being depleted. Plato was of the opinion that each species was equipped with its own protective means, which prevented them from becoming extinct.
The Idea of Sustainability
Before the industrial age, Europeans recognized the crucial need for forests in everyday life. The forest provided a source of energy that could be used to heat homes and cook meals. Therefore, people knew that the depletion of the forest posed a serious threat to their way of life. While society wouldn’t face complete ruin, their industries could. Life as they knew it could change forever without forests.
The German term for sustainability, “nachhaltigkeit,” was invented by Hans Carl von Carlowitz in 1713. It was used to explain the need to maintain a continuous supply of forest wood in order to keep Saxony’s forges and mines in operation. Since mining coal was growing in popularity at the time, it was seen as a solution to the problem of forest depletion. Although it did help keep the tree population up, coal introduced an entirely new set of environmental problems.
During the 1800s, Henry David Thoreau began his work as an ecologist before ecology was even recognized as a science. The symbiotic relationship between squirrels and oak trees was of particular interest to Thoreau; he felt their relationship fit the description of sustainable methods. The oak tree would produce acorns that squirrels would collect and store for the winter. In the process of digging holes to hide the acorns, it was common for squirrels to plant more acorns than they would dig up in the future. In effect, the squirrels would be planting oak trees while feeding themselves, which promoted sustainability for the oak trees.
Despite their early beginnings, environmentalism and sustainability did not really catch on until the 1960s. While both movements have their differences — environmentalism focuses on current environmental issues, while sustainability centers on environmental balance — each ancient concept encourages people to put forth efforts that will lead to a healthier planet for generations to come.
