Being there Quote by Thomas Berry
“The planet Earth in its present mode of florescence is being devastated. This devastation is being fostered and protected by legal, political and economic establishments that exalt the human community while offering no protection to the non-human modes of being. There is an urgent need for a Jurisprudence (system of governance) that recognizes that the well-being of the integral world community is primary, and that human well-being is derivative - an Earth Jurisprudence.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Earth as a Living System” by Thomas Berry, 1995
Human systems dominate and damage the planet, so we need a legal framework that prioritizes the whole Earth over human interests.
In simple terms: We must create laws that protect the planet first, not just humans.
Key Takeaway
Advocate for Earth‑centric policies.
Themes
environmental ethics
law
systems thinking
Mood
urgent
hopeful
Type
call to action
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- education
- activism
- urban planning
Key Concepts
ecology
philosophy
governance
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we shift public perception to value non‑human life?
- What legal tools can enforce Earth‑centric rights?
A Different Perspective
Changing entrenched economic interests is a major obstacle.
![“[Justice] Murphy... who ruled against the state [anti-sodomy] law... didn't see why the Supreme Court had to dwell on the historical background of sodomy laws [before striking them down]. All one really had to know to decide the case, he reasoned, was that Texas and its legions of moralizers let…” quote by Dale Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e81/dale-carpenter-59590_jurisprudence_justice-murphy-who-ruled-against-the-sta_382589.jpg)
![“During this period (of technological confinement / [and language]) the human mind has been placed in its narrowest confines it has experienced since consciousness emerged from its Paleolithic phase. Even the most primitive tribes have a larger vision of the universe, of our place and functioning…” quote by Thomas Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/64a/thomas-berry-7391_celestial_during-this-period-of-technological-conf_237540.jpg)
