Cultural Ecology

CULTURAL ECOLOGY

by Antonio C. Antonio

January 30, 2015

“Cultural Ecology is a theory that states that ecological influences from the natural environment and cultural traits diffused from other societies create a combination of core and non-core elements of human cultures, which together make up the unique manner that a society behaves.” (“Environmental-Cultural Terms”, Antonio, 2014, http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/2014/06/environmental-cultural-terms.html)

The Cultural Ecology Theory can be used in analyzing the distribution of wealth and power in a society and how this affect the behavior of people of different social stature in the society.  The Cultural Ecology Theory deals on how environmental forces influence human behavior and how human activities affect the biosphere and the Earth itself.  Cultural Ecology focuses on how cultural beliefs and practices assist human populations adapt to their respective environments and live within the means of their ecosystem.  This contributes to strengthening social organization and human institutions.

“Chinese migrants to the Philippines who are predominantly Buddhists and Taoists have adopted the Roman Catholic religion and send their children to Catholic schools.  However, they are Catholics in public and at the same time Buddhist and Taoists in private.  The entire family attends Mass in Roman Catholic churches on Sunday mornings, have family lunch in a Chinese restaurant after the Mass then go home to pray before their Buddha altars.”  (“Environmental-Cultural Terms”, Antonio, 2014, http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/2014/06/environmental-cultural-terms.html)

The Cultural Ecology Theory views culture as evolutionary (therefore, changing and evolving) which is a necessary component characteristic for human adaptation.  This evolutionary process often combines traditional and indigenous worldviews and practices and morphs these into a neo-culture… subject to changes again after some time.  The practices of man in relation to his environment essentially is Cultural Ecology.

Just my little thoughts…

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