Optimising Worldviews for a Flourishing Planet: Exploring the Principle of Right Relationship
Worldviews, the foundational assumptions guiding human behaviour and societal systems, are pivotal in shaping planetary health and human flourishing. This paper discusses two divergent worldviews that have prevailed in human populations over time and which are still evident today: the Holistic/Non-l...
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MDPI AG
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Challenges |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/15/4/42 |
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| author | Wendy Ellyatt |
| author_facet | Wendy Ellyatt |
| author_sort | Wendy Ellyatt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Worldviews, the foundational assumptions guiding human behaviour and societal systems, are pivotal in shaping planetary health and human flourishing. This paper discusses two divergent worldviews that have prevailed in human populations over time and which are still evident today: the Holistic/Non-linear Worldview, which emphasises interconnectedness and harmony with nature, and the Dualistic/Linear Worldview, which prioritises human-centric activities and the more recent exploitation of nature. The characteristics of human worldviews are explored, including how these are formed in early life via the vital role of human communication and storytelling and the expressive role of the arts. To support the future of human flourishing, this paper makes the case for an integrative worldview that would enable us to embrace paradox and complexity, to seek synthesis, and to promote an integrated approach that reconciles the tensions between seemingly opposing ways of understanding our world. The principle of “Right Relationship”—fostering reciprocal, respectful, and sustainable interactions between humans and the natural world—is examined as a possible framework that could be employed to help humanity navigate today’s global crises and create the conditions for a sustainable, flourishing future. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e9d3768f587640ddaf9fc5d553587e96 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2078-1547 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Challenges |
| spelling | doaj-art-e9d3768f587640ddaf9fc5d553587e962025-08-20T02:00:24ZengMDPI AGChallenges2078-15472024-10-011544210.3390/challe15040042Optimising Worldviews for a Flourishing Planet: Exploring the Principle of Right RelationshipWendy Ellyatt0Flourish Project, Gloucestershire GL50 2QZ, UKWorldviews, the foundational assumptions guiding human behaviour and societal systems, are pivotal in shaping planetary health and human flourishing. This paper discusses two divergent worldviews that have prevailed in human populations over time and which are still evident today: the Holistic/Non-linear Worldview, which emphasises interconnectedness and harmony with nature, and the Dualistic/Linear Worldview, which prioritises human-centric activities and the more recent exploitation of nature. The characteristics of human worldviews are explored, including how these are formed in early life via the vital role of human communication and storytelling and the expressive role of the arts. To support the future of human flourishing, this paper makes the case for an integrative worldview that would enable us to embrace paradox and complexity, to seek synthesis, and to promote an integrated approach that reconciles the tensions between seemingly opposing ways of understanding our world. The principle of “Right Relationship”—fostering reciprocal, respectful, and sustainable interactions between humans and the natural world—is examined as a possible framework that could be employed to help humanity navigate today’s global crises and create the conditions for a sustainable, flourishing future.https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/15/4/42worldviewsright relationshipholisticdualisticvaluesflourishing |
| spellingShingle | Wendy Ellyatt Optimising Worldviews for a Flourishing Planet: Exploring the Principle of Right Relationship Challenges worldviews right relationship holistic dualistic values flourishing |
| title | Optimising Worldviews for a Flourishing Planet: Exploring the Principle of Right Relationship |
| title_full | Optimising Worldviews for a Flourishing Planet: Exploring the Principle of Right Relationship |
| title_fullStr | Optimising Worldviews for a Flourishing Planet: Exploring the Principle of Right Relationship |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimising Worldviews for a Flourishing Planet: Exploring the Principle of Right Relationship |
| title_short | Optimising Worldviews for a Flourishing Planet: Exploring the Principle of Right Relationship |
| title_sort | optimising worldviews for a flourishing planet exploring the principle of right relationship |
| topic | worldviews right relationship holistic dualistic values flourishing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/15/4/42 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT wendyellyatt optimisingworldviewsforaflourishingplanetexploringtheprincipleofrightrelationship |