Fishing in McGuire Lake has provided a forum for discussion about the role of human beings on this planet in nature. Both the egocentric and ecocentric points of view have been described. In the ecocentric, nature or the ecology is the important focus and the role of humans is to fit in, not dominate and manipulate.
Are trees and water natural resources to be used for humans or assets to be respected for their own sake? Is the role of humans as stewards, in charge of decision-making or as trustees, ensuring the assets are intact and healthy? What values do these views reflect?
When we read a description of fishing as “…the eternal struggle of predator and prey.” and “…that primordial instinct, that ancient need to pit myself against nature…” we see that this represents the egocentric view of the world and nature. Existing only to be used for humans and to be dominated.
Is this the only way now to live? Some time ago I was at a federal habitat conference and met a couple of indigenous people from the North. They told me they couldn’t understand the practice of catch and release of fish. They said that the fish was giving his life for the person so why didn’t the fisherperson keep it and that this behaviour was just playing with the fish. They appeared to be both mystified and disgusted. So, some contemporary cultures still appear to hold an ecocentric world view. Maybe we can learn from them.
The framework of ego and eco centric can help awaken each of us to the motivation and values behind our actions. Then we can ask ourselves, “Is this what I believe and what I want? Is this the kind of world I want to live in?”
Barbara Westerman