Affective Ecology is the branch of ecology accounting for humans’ emotional connection to Nature. Its epistemological statute is interdisciplinary and founded on the Biophilia Hypothesis (Biology) and the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, in particular Naturalist Intelligence (Psychology). Biophilia (as evolutionary trait) and Naturalist Intelligence (as potential goal of education) can be considered the two poles of an environmental education journey. In fact, Biophilia is the set of innate learning rules, evolved in the human species (Wilson, 1993), which enables individuals to benefit from an evolutionist coherent and an ontological fittest relationship with Nature, whereas Naturalist Intelligence is the ability to recognise living organisms and natural objects, to take care of them and to interact with them in subtle ways (Gardner, 1999), which enables individuals to a full realisation of their inborn biophilic potential to connect to Gaia and to empathise with it. From this theoretical framework, we have developed an experimental research program that has allowed us to make several observations regarding fascination triggered by Nature, which unfolds the affective bonds and the cognitive benefits at the basis of the relationship between human beings and Nature, and starting point for any environmental education program.
Affective ecology can help environmental education
BARBIERO G;
2017-01-01
Abstract
Affective Ecology is the branch of ecology accounting for humans’ emotional connection to Nature. Its epistemological statute is interdisciplinary and founded on the Biophilia Hypothesis (Biology) and the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, in particular Naturalist Intelligence (Psychology). Biophilia (as evolutionary trait) and Naturalist Intelligence (as potential goal of education) can be considered the two poles of an environmental education journey. In fact, Biophilia is the set of innate learning rules, evolved in the human species (Wilson, 1993), which enables individuals to benefit from an evolutionist coherent and an ontological fittest relationship with Nature, whereas Naturalist Intelligence is the ability to recognise living organisms and natural objects, to take care of them and to interact with them in subtle ways (Gardner, 1999), which enables individuals to a full realisation of their inborn biophilic potential to connect to Gaia and to empathise with it. From this theoretical framework, we have developed an experimental research program that has allowed us to make several observations regarding fascination triggered by Nature, which unfolds the affective bonds and the cognitive benefits at the basis of the relationship between human beings and Nature, and starting point for any environmental education program.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
