Homo ecologicus: concepts, discourses, practices
Authors:   South Ural State University (National Research University), Grednovskaya Elena , Emchenko Yevgenia ,   South Ural State University (National Research University), Solomko Dmitry ,   South Ural State University (National Research University)
Published: December 2024

Introduction. The article raises the problem of
categorical expression of forming and preserving in
active reproduction of the ecological worldview of
the modern era man, oriented on building optimal
human relations with the constantly technologicalizing and digitalizing world. The elaboration of the
content of the main terms of the problem under
consideration is reflected not only in the analysis
of modern scientific and public discourse on the
subject, but also in the materials of the All-Russian
scientific-practical conference “Modern materials
and methods of solving environmental problems
of post-industrial agglomeration”, in particular,
the section “Humanitarian bases of nature-saving
activity”.
The purpose of the study is to clarify the semantic
content of the concepts “ecological worldview”,
“ecological consciousness”, “ecological thinking”,
“environmentalism” in the modern scientific and
public discourse not only in its published representation, but also in the praxis of the main ideas
and key theses of the reports of the participants
of the humanitarian section of the environmental
conference, reflecting in a discussion format the
scientific demand, the degree of clarity, dynamics
and problematization of the interdisciplinary development of the categories of ecothematics.
Methods. The methodological foundations of
the research are related to clarifying the above
concepts, their semantic emphases in scientific
discourse, as well as eco-rhetoric in the Internet
space. In addition, in order to reflect the key theses
and main ideas of the papers, the methods of gen-
eral scientific order (analysis, synthesis, abstraction,
etc.) are used.
Scientific novelty of the research. The content
of the terms “ecological worldview”, “ecological
consciousness”, “ecological thinking”, “environmentalism” in theoretical scientific and modern public
discourse in their correlation with scientific interdisciplinary practices of the conference discussion
platforms has been clarified.
Results. A discursive field has been formed in the
public Internet space, which can be thematically
designated as “ecologization of digitalization”, according to which the latest digital technologies are
capable of preventing and solving some environmental problems. In addition, it can be argued that
the terms “ecological consciousness” and “ecology of
consciousness” mean not only a careful attitude to
natural resources, but also responsibility for one’s
actions and a positive attitude to the world in the
form of proactive thinking (instead of reactive) based
on the worldview of ecohumanism and holism.
Conclusions. Since the middle of the last century,
domestic and foreign philosophical and scientific literature has noted the need for active formation of
an ecological worldview, expressed in the preserving and reproducing the values of human concern
for nature, society, culture and self.
Today, in the conditions of aggravation of environmental risks, their scientific and public discussions,
and the search for ways to mitigate them,
the issue of changing the paradigm of thinking and
activity of modern man in favor of a caring, careful
and responsible attitude to himself and the surrounding world is actualized. In this regard, in the
discourses discussed above, there is a demand for
mental attitudes and everyday practices in which
pro-ecological activity would be manifested as an
attribute of an environmentally friendly person
(homo ecologicus).
The semantic field of the Internet space on ecothematics correlates with the scientific interdisciplinary
discourses of conference discussion platforms,
thus also reflecting the semantic demand for new
categories in various discourses and scientific practices.