resourceism

resourceism means A human tendency to regard the natural environment as a set of resources to be exploited. It carries an Arena rating of 1271, earned across 6 head-to-head judged battles.

Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, resourceism ranks #419 of 13,218 for Most Sublime Words, #578 of 13,218 for The Improbable, #792 of 13,218 for Most Incisive Words, #1,000 of 13,218 for Most Malleable Words.

Why “resourceism” is a great word

Resourceism is a human tendency to regard the natural environment primarily as a set of resources to be exploited. From the English word 'resource' (meaning a source of supply or support) + the suffix '-ism' (denoting a distinctive practice, system, or philosophy). Unlike stewardship, which implies a duty of responsible care, or ecocentrism, which posits intrinsic value in all living things, resourceism is a fundamentally anthropocentric lens that sees utility as nature's sole purpose. It is the surveyor's map that sees only timber and ore, the agricultural ledger that counts bushels but not biodiversity, and the glance at a river that measures megawatts before noticing the current. This philosophy converts a living world into an inventory of commodities, a quiet and pervasive arithmetic that precedes the final invoice.

Etymology

From resource + -ism.

noun

A human tendency to regard the natural environment as a set of resources to be exploited.“David Suzuki would remind you that this is the language of "a planet for the taking," the terminology of "resourceism" in which all living things are viewed as raw materials for the service of mankind”

Words closest in meaning

By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.

ecocentrism 86% match — A nature-centred, as opposed to human-centred, value system. vs resourceism →
possessionism 86% match — The tendency to expand one's ownership of property without regard for its ethical implications. vs resourceism →
exemptionalism 84% match — The belief that the relationship between humans and the natural environment is unimportant because humans are "exempt" from environmental forces and capable of adapting via cultural change. vs resourceism →
anthropocentricity 83% match — The quality of being anthropocentric. vs resourceism →
cornucopianism 82% match — The belief that continued supply of the material needs of humankind can be achieved through continued advances in technology. vs resourceism →
extractivism 82% match — Extractivist practices in the management of natural resources. vs resourceism →
zoocentrism 82% match — A viewpoint or theory that focuses on animals, giving them preference above all other considerations. vs resourceism →
earthism 82% match — The belief that environmental concerns should be primary above all other considerations. vs resourceism →