Open AccessThe Power of Ideology: Religion and Environmental Consciousness in Prehistoric Societies
Author(s) -
Dylan S. Davis
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of anthropology at mcmaster
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0707-3771
DOI - 10.15173/nexus.v24i1.1098
Subject(s) - ideology , faith , environmental ethics , humanity , consciousness , power (physics) , politics , environmental consciousness , environmental degradation , political economy , sustainable development , sociology , state (computer science) , political science , ecology , law , epistemology , philosophy , physics , algorithm , quantum mechanics , computer science , biology
People are defined by the environments in which they live. This article seeks to explain how environmentally-based ideologies help lead to the development of ecologically sustainable innovations. If the importance of nature is a core ideology of a society, measures will likely be taken to ensure sustainable usage of environmental resources. In times of short-term environmental instability, religious beliefs become strengthened due to successful rituals (e.g. prayers for rain coincide with the end of a period of drought). However, if poor conditions persist for long durations then faith in rituals will waver, leaving a society in a state of instability. Utilising various anthropological literature and two case studies (The Central Andes and Easter Island), the following conclusions are made: (1) ideology that emphasises human-environmental coexistence stresses the importance of the environment and leads to successful innovations that allow for humanity to thrive without doing irreversible damage to our surroundings; and (2) unpredictable and lengthy periods of negative environmental conditions can lead to the weakening of social, political, and economic constructs and their controlling ideologies.