Habermas and Green Political Thought: Two Roads Converging

This article focuses on the relationship between Critical Theory and ecological ethics. It defines this perspective and provides a description of its application to environmental ethics. Objections to the use of Critical Theory in environmental ethics and an overview of an alternative ecocentric approach developed by Robyn Eckersley follow. The third section responds to this critique, and argues that this alternative has profound theoretical problems. Specifically, it is based on a one-sided and antiquated notion of ecology, misrepresents the intellectual foundations of Critical Theory, and commits the naturalistic fallacy. It also encounters substantial practical concerns regarding its political acceptance, efficacy, and implementation into democratic political practices. Accordingly, there is little compelling intellectual force or empirical evidence to warrant its acceptance. The article concludes with an overview of the current efforts that are being made to integrate Critical Theory into environmental decision-making.