Cities Quote by Stephen Jay Gould
“As a word, ecology has been so debased by recent political usage that many people employ it to identify anything good that happens far from cities and without human interference.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Panda’s Thumb, 1980
Ecology has been diluted politically, often used to label any natural benefit away from human influence.
In simple terms: Ecology is misused politically.
Key Takeaway
Be critical of politicized environmental terms.
Themes
environment
politics
misuse
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- conservation messaging
- education curricula
Key Concepts
ecological literacy
semantic drift
Questions to Reflect On
- How does political language affect scientific concepts?
- Can we reclaim accurate ecological language?
A Different Perspective
The term may still hold scientific meaning despite political misuse.
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
