Environmental Sociology is the study of the relationship and interaction between social beings and the environment in which they live, be it a social or a natural environment. Before the modern concept of environmental sociology emerged throughout the world, darwin's theory of evolution already suggested that the survival of beings is interdependent on the social characteristics it possesses in their natural environment. Though environmental sociology has more than one conceptual definition given by intellectuals, it is a contemporary concept that has come into the picture due to the social recognition of environmental problems and problematic social conditions within society.
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In this article, we will learn about the environmental sociology course, its importance, and much more. Read on to know 10 things about environmental sociology:
1. Three dimensions of Environmental sociology - The three dimensions of environmental sociology are given below:
The material dimension deals with the effects of the materialistic consumption of society along with the economy and advanced technology on the natural environment.
The ideal dimension deals with the impact of social experiences, cultural practices, and beliefs on different environmental conditions
The practical dimension is all about what we as human beings can contribute to this field. It suggests that rather than only studying the issues related to the sociology of the environment, we need to improve it.
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2. Existential Dualism - The importance of the nature and scope of environmental sociology could be understood with the help of theories related to sociology and the environment. The initial theory is existential dualism. Several unique cultures and evolving traits have given rise to the duality of the human race. According to Buttel and Humphrey, one perspective is that human beings live in the ecosphere along with other creatures. They share the same ecological dependency with other creatures. From another perspective, human beings are supposed to be different from other creatures because of their unique capabilities, different cultures, beliefs, and institutions. It is believed that humans have the power to create, manipulate, transcend and destroy the ultimate natural environment. Typically, biologists and ecologists put more emphasis on the first perspective while social scientists signify the second perspective. This difference in perspective formed the initial paradigms of environmental sociology.
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3. Societal-Environmental Dialectic - The environmental sociology course will enable students to get familiar with the societal environmental dialectic concept. It is a conflictual concept that firstly states that the human urge to expand economically will be considered more desirable than ecological concerns. Secondly, the government is supposed to prioritize human health and economic disasters at the expense of the most alarming environmental problems. Thirdly, environmental degradation, in the long run, could become so severe that the government would be forced to respond to such a serious situation with sustainable policies in the economy.
4. Treadmill of Production - Another thing that students will get familiar with after pursuing a sociology and environment-course is the treadmill of production. In the year 1980, Schnaiberg again gave a conflicting theory on the interaction between human beings and their environment. The theory is that though an economy needs to grow, attract investments, and crave more profitability, ecological concerns are harmful to the survival of human society. This identifies the need to economically grow continuously and will increase the need for more future growth. Hence, economic growth is desired throughout society but environmental degradation would lead to a common consequence that will damage the long-run economic growth.
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5. Human Exemptionalism Paradigm [HEP] - The Human Exemptionalism Paradigm signifies the fact that humans are unique species that have been exempted naturally from environmental forces. During the sociology courses, students will understand that this paradigm was shaped in the western world and became popular at the time of the industrial revolution, and continued to be present until the second half of the 20th century.
6. New Ecological Paradigm [NEP] - The 21st century marked the addition of a new paradigm related to the concept of the scope of environmental sociology. The New Ecological Paradigm claimed that though humans have exceptional characteristics such as culture, beliefs, values, and technology, they will remain as one of the parts of the global ecosystem interdependently.
Humans living in their physical environment depend upon the biological environment finitely. Due to this, the biophysical environment has the potential to impose both biological and physical restraints on the affairs of human beings. Not only that human affairs are in many ways influenced by natural factors other than cultural and social factors.
7. Environmental movements - Another important thing that students will learn in sociology certification or environmental certification courses is about environmental movements. Sociologists developed links between the range of environmental and social issues like natural hazards, social impacts, outdoor creation, and resource management. New movements as compared to older ones are mostly cultural and social rather than political. These movements were intended to give a different identity and transformation to the people who willingly adopt alternative lifestyles in order to improve the natural as well as the social environment.
8. Western Modernity and Environmental Sociology - The Cartesian separation of society and nature is a concept still firmly rooted in an environment in sociology. This separation forms one of the foundations of Western modernity. Western modernity is a concept that is linked to the capitalist, colonial, and patriarchal dimensions of the West. This model of society identifies both human beings and the natural environment as entities that are present in the anthropocentric cosmos in which humans are the only true actors.
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9. Modern Trends in Environmental Sociology - In the modern era, graduates in environmental sociology courses have started reassessing the IPAT model's utility in this field. This is particularly to examine the important forces which are generating environmental problems at the global level. Some of these environmental problems are climate change and tropical deforestation. IPAT is an accounting equation that shows proportionality between each of the three causal factors and their sustainable impact.
10. UN’s 2030 Agenda - In 2015, the General Assembly of the UN adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] included in the programme named UN’s 2030 Agenda. It was made with a principle in mind which is “leaving no one behind”. The main goal of this initiative is to achieve sustainable development worldwide. It has provided an emphasis on inequality, education, accessibility of human settlement, growth, and employment as well as proper monitoring and data collection of the SDGs. The United Nation’s 2030 Agenda focuses on sustainable development which can solve the issues related to environmental sociology to some extent. The UN’s 2030 Agenda links social, environmental, and economic targets which clearly sends a message that the social sciences and the need for more multidisciplinary research and development programmes are genuine ones.
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Frequently Asked Question [FAQs] - 10 Things You Need to Know About Environmental Sociology
Question: Why is environmental sociology important?
Answer:
Environmental sociology is important because it not only studies the interaction between the social and environmental factors but also the variety of environments that affects & influences society as a whole. It studies both social and environmental problems that are interrelated. Also, it is responsible for the research that finds out solutions to the above problems.
Question: What is the subject matter of environmental sociology?
Answer:
The subject matter of environmental sociology consists of social aspects that are related to environmental problems and issues.
Question: What does environmental sociology study?
Answer:
Environmental sociology studies the societies in the modern era and the environment around it in different ranges such as from the perspective of a household to the global level relations.
Question: What is the meaning of social environment?
Answer:
Social environment is the physical and social setting in which human beings live and evolve themselves into different communities, cultures and beliefs. It is the environment where they interact with one another and gain knowledge too.
Question: What do we call a person who studies environmental sociology?
Answer:
A person who studies environmental sociology is known as an environmental sociologist.
Question: What do environmental socialists referring to when they use the term environment?
Answer:
Environment to which the environmental sociologists refer are mainly two types of environment. One environment is which includes all the creatures in nature who are interdependent on each other and the other environment is that the humans have created of their own as a social animal.
Question: Why is it necessary to study nature-society relationships?
Answer:
Since there is a circular dependency between nature and society, it is important to study the relationship between them. It will further help in solving problems and issues related to both nature and society through more research studies.
Question: What social problem might an environmental socialist study?
Answer:
An environmental sociologist might study social problems that are related to population, demography, technology, social inequality, culture, community health, and illness.
Question: What jobs do environmental sociologists do?
Answer:
Environmental sociology is a research-oriented field that mostly deals with studying different factors that are influencing & affecting both the environment and the society and the inter-relationship between them. Hence, environmental sociologists mainly work in the field of research.
Question: How to become an environmental sociologist?
Answer:
Since most of this field requires research work, a master’s degree in any sociological discipline is required. There are also degree courses solely dedicated to environmental sociology. Other than that a sound background in research methods and statistical methods would help in increasing experience in the field quickly.
Question: What are the names of societies and organisations related to environmental sociology?
Answer:
The names of some of the renowned societies and organisations are:
The American Sociological Association
The National Association of Environmental Professionals [NAEP]
The Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Question: What is the job demand for environmental sociologists?
Answer:
The increase in the interest in topics such as environmental problems, climate changes, and the sustainable development of the economy will definitely spur up the job demand of environmental sociologists. In general, 15% growth in sociology jobs has been seen recently which may lead to the generation of 400 new job opportunities for people in the field of sociology.
Questions related to Environmental Studies
Showing 29 out of 29 Questions
25 Views
environmental studies all chapters name
Hey student,
Semister 1 : Introduction to environmental studies
Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies; Scope and importance; the need for
environmental education. Concept of sustainability and sustainable development.
Unit 2 : Ecosystems
What is an ecosystem? Structure: food chains, food webs and function of ecosystem: Energy
flow in an ecosystem, nutrient cycle and ecological succession. Ecological Interactions.
Case studies of the following ecosystems:
a] Forest ecosystem b] Grassland ecosystem c] Desert ecosystem d] Aquatic ecosystems
Unit 3 : Biodiversity and Conservation
zones of India; Biodiversity patterns and global biodiversity hot spots
b. India as a mega-biodiversity nation; Endangered and endemic species of India
c. Threats to biodiversity: Habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife conflicts,
biological invasions; Conservation of biodiversity : In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of
biodiversity.
d. Nature reserves, tribal populations and rights [Niyamgiri-Vedanta, POSCO], and human
wildlife conflicts in Indian context [Sundarban-Human-Tiger encounters].
e. Ecosystem and biodiversity services: Ecological, economic, social, ethical, aesthetic and
Informational value.
Unit 4 : Environmental Pollution and Global Environmental Issues
a. Environmental pollution: types, causes, effects and controls; Air, water, soil and noise
pollution.
b. Climate change, global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid rain and impacts on human
communities and agriculture
c. Nuclear hazards and human health risks
d. Solid waste management: Control measures of urban and industrial waste, special
reference e-waste, Biomedical waste.
e. Pollution Tragedies:, Bhopal Gas, Endosulfan, Minamata and Flint water.
This is the Semister 1 syllabus for b com department.
All the best student,
Hope this helps you.
12 Views
if i have taken economics and environmental studies as my cuet subjects, am i still eligible for a ba llb course?? please help me
Hello ,12 class examination passed eligible for applying to appear for common University entrance test for admission in undergraduate courses and PG courses, diploma or certificate courses in 45 Central University in India. You have combination of economic and environmental science in 10 + 2 class examination. Now you want to appear in cute examination for BA LLB 5 years integrated course. It is possible to appear for cute exam for admission in centre University of 5 years integrated Ballb course. There is no educational problem taking admission in Ballb course though you have combination of economic and environmental subject in 10 + 2 examination. Generally BAllb course admission is taken after any arts commerce science 10 + 2 class examination pass student
Hope this will help.