ecosophy

Etymology

Blend of ecology + philosophy, coined by Félix Guattari and Arne Næss.

ecosophy means ecological philosophy, particularly of the type associated with the deep ecology movement. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.

Why this word is great

ECOSOPHY — [Noun] A personal, ethical philosophy of ecological harmony, emphasizing humanity’s profound interdependence with the non-human world. Its etymology is a deliberate blend of ecology (from Greek oikos, “house, household, environment”) and philosophy (from Greek sophia, “wisdom”), coined by Félix Guattari and Arne Næss. Unlike “ecology,” which charts the objective web of relations, or “environmentalism,” which mobilizes for pragmatic preservation, ecosophy is the quiet, interior architecture of values built from such knowledge. It is the practiced restraint of leaving a field fallow, the recognition of a mountain as a neighbor rather than a resource, and the patient act of planting a tree whose shade you will never sit under—a conscious, daily work of dwelling wisely, knowing that to damage the walls is to collapse the roof.

noun

Ecological philosophy, particularly of the type associated with the deep ecology movement.“[…] ecosophy argues that an individual should act in such a way as to “do as little harm as possible.” The “oath” of those committed to ecosophy closely parallels that of medical doctors: Above all else do no harm.”