Dr Eileen Crist

Eileen Crist, an environmental writer and scholar focused on biodiversity loss, shares her insights on fostering harmony between humans and nature. She explores the biodiversity crisis, emphasizing the impact of habitat loss and advocating for plant-based diets to alleviate pressure on the planet. Crist highlights the pitfalls of human supremacy and expansionism, urging a shift towards indigenous values of reciprocity with the Earth. She envisions an ecological civilization where 'earthling' identities lead to meaningful work and restored wild spaces.

In this discussion, Dr. Eileen Crist, a professor emerita in Science, Technology and Society at Virginia Tech, delves into the troubling concept of anthropocentrism, which positions humans as the planet's paramount species. She traces its historical roots and explores its dire consequences, from ecological destruction to mass extinction. The conversation shifts towards alternatives like ecocentrism, emphasizing the intrinsic value of nature and the need for a shift in worldview. Dr. Crist inspires hope for collective action to dismantle human supremacy.