Arne Næss, Deep Ecology and Thinking Like a Mountain
We often talk about climate change, species extinction, or planetary collapse in terms of data, politics, or carbon footprints. But what if we’re asking the wrong questions? What if the real crisis is not just in our atmosphere but in our perception? Enter Arne Næss, the Norwegian philosopher who dared to reframe our relationship with nature from the ground up. Næss didn’t just think about ecology, he lived it, climbed it (he was an avid mountaineer), and philosophized it into something deeper. Something transformative. He called it deep ecology.
What Is Deep Ecology?
Unlike so called “shallow ecology,” which focuses on resource conservation and pollution control for human benefit, deep ecology asks us to recognize the intrinsic value of all life forms independent of their utility to humans. It’s not just a theory. It’s a worldview shift. All living beings have an equal right to live and flourish. Human life is just one strand in the web of life and not the center of it. Real solutions require a deep change in consciousness, not just behavior.
Who Was Arne Næss?
Born in 1912, Næss was a professor of philosophy at the University of Oslo and the youngest person to hold a chair there. But he was no ivory tower intellectual. He summited Tirich Mir, one of the tallest peaks in the Hindu Kush, and built a remote mountain cabin called Tvergastein, where he wrote and meditated in solitude. His love for mountains wasn’t just personal, it was philosophical. He often quoted the idea of “thinking like a mountain,” popularized by Aldo Leopold, to describe a mindset of long-term ecological awareness.
Essential Writings & Ideas
If you want to explore Næss’s work, start with:
The Ecology of Wisdom (2008) – A sweeping collection of his essays. This book is a beautiful blend of philosophy, ecology, and activism.
Life’s Philosophy: Reason and Feeling in a Deeper World (2002) – A more personal and emotional exploration of his values and the inner life of a deep ecologist.
The Deep Ecology Platform (1984) – Co-authored with George Sessions, this is the foundational 8-point summary of the deep ecology movement.
One of the most enduring ideas from his work is ecosophy, short for "ecological philosophy." Næss believed that everyone should develop their own ecosophy, a personal, coherent way of being that honors the web of life.
Næss’s Legacy in Today’s Media: Planetary (2015)
While Næss passed away in 2009, his ideas live on. One beautiful expression of deep ecology can be found in the documentary film Planetary. Though it doesn’t name-drop Næss, it embodies his philosophy:
• It features astronauts reflecting on the “overview effect” which is the shift in perspective that comes from seeing Earth as a fragile, interconnected whole.
• It challenges anthropocentrism and calls for a new planetary ethic just as Næss did.
• It stirs emotion and wonder, not just statistics which is a Næss-approved way to shift hearts and minds.
Planetary is, in a way, a film-length meditation on deep ecology for the modern viewer. Currently available on Amazon and Vimeo.
Why Professor Næss Belongs in Our Time
In an age of burnout, biodiversity collapse, and rising eco-anxiety, Arne Næss offers a radical, calming, and ultimately empowering lens. Instead of fixing nature to fit society, fix society to fit nature. Instead of numbing out, wake up to your ecological self. Instead of dominating the Earth, fall back in love with it.
Practicing Your Own Ecosophy
What would it look like if you lived according to your own deep ecology?
What values would shape your days?
What beings would you include in your sense of “us”?
What would your choices look like if you thought like a mountain?
Arne Næss reminds us that saving the planet isn’t just about solar panels or carbon offsets. It’s about remembering who we are. A species among species, woven into the fabric of life and not the center of the universe itself around which everything else revolves.
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