Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does social construction theory emphasize?
What does social construction theory emphasize?
- The untouched nature of remote places
- The objective characteristics of a category, condition, or thing
- The separation of wilderness and nature from society
- The influence of beliefs and practices on our understanding of the world (correct)
What does the Thomas Theorem suggest?
What does the Thomas Theorem suggest?
- People's perceptions do not shape their understanding of the world
- Objective reality is more important than perceived reality
- Situations perceived as real have real consequences (correct)
- Perceptions do not influence the consequences of a situation
In the context of social construction, how are 'wilderness' and 'nature' generally viewed?
In the context of social construction, how are 'wilderness' and 'nature' generally viewed?
- As concepts unaffected by human activities
- As entirely human-created constructs
- As separate from society due to constructed beliefs (correct)
- As synonymous terms for untouched natural areas
What is the focus of constructivists according to the text?
What is the focus of constructivists according to the text?
What is the theory that all beliefs, truths, and facts are socially constructed in a particular social context?
What is the theory that all beliefs, truths, and facts are socially constructed in a particular social context?
What theory argues that humans and nonhumans produce and change one another through interactions?
What theory argues that humans and nonhumans produce and change one another through interactions?
What is the practice of deciding what to observe and what observations mean as humans in a social context?
What is the practice of deciding what to observe and what observations mean as humans in a social context?
What theory relies on objectivism to prove its point but challenges ideas of desertification using science?
What theory relies on objectivism to prove its point but challenges ideas of desertification using science?
What is the concept that argues that there are influences other than social context, especially in a physical world?
What is the concept that argues that there are influences other than social context, especially in a physical world?
Who decides what counts as 'good science' and the topics that interest the scientific community and the agencies that fund them?
Who decides what counts as 'good science' and the topics that interest the scientific community and the agencies that fund them?
What is the alternative concept to relativism, arguing that humans and nonhumans produce and change one another through interactions?
What is the alternative concept to relativism, arguing that humans and nonhumans produce and change one another through interactions?
What theory argues that all beliefs, truths, and facts are socially constructed but admits influences other than social context, especially in a physical world?
What theory argues that all beliefs, truths, and facts are socially constructed but admits influences other than social context, especially in a physical world?
What are some meanings associated with the word 'nature'?
What are some meanings associated with the word 'nature'?
How is the understanding of 'nature' influenced?
How is the understanding of 'nature' influenced?
What are 'nature' and 'natural properties' considered as part of?
What are 'nature' and 'natural properties' considered as part of?
How have concepts like race been socially constructed?
How have concepts like race been socially constructed?
How did the social construction of 'New World' natures justify European actions?
How did the social construction of 'New World' natures justify European actions?
What can materially change the world according to the text?
What can materially change the world according to the text?
How is environmental discourse created and sustained?
How is environmental discourse created and sustained?
What is conflicting about the discourse of North African desertification according to the text?
What is conflicting about the discourse of North African desertification according to the text?
What may the discourse of North African desertification support according to the text?
What may the discourse of North African desertification support according to the text?
What cultural context is the concept of 'wilderness' specific to?
What cultural context is the concept of 'wilderness' specific to?
What does the concept of 'wilderness' take attention away from according to the text?
What does the concept of 'wilderness' take attention away from according to the text?
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Study Notes
Understanding the Social Construction of Nature
- The word "nature" has multiple meanings, including essential quality, inherent force, and the material world itself.
- The understanding of "nature" is often separate from humans and is influenced by social context, including cultural and belief systems, economic relations, and governance.
- Social reality is negotiated and perception-based, and concepts like "nature" and "natural properties" are part of this social reality.
- Concepts like race are socially constructed as natural, with examples seen throughout history, influencing domination and colonialism.
- The social construction of "New World" natures led to the Europeans justifying displacing indigenous inhabitants.
- Environmental discourse, consisting of narrative, concept, ideology, and signifying practices, can materially change the world and is supported by powerful institutions.
- Environmental discourse is created and sustained by powerful institutions and people, and its origins are often forgotten.
- The discourse of North African desertification has conflicting views, with evidence from the 18th century until 1997 suggesting expansion, while environmental studies say otherwise.
- The discourse of North African desertification may support specific interests and benefit certain groups.
- The concept of "wilderness" is specific to Western European cultures and has been used to justify displacement and violence.
- The concept of "wilderness" places the focus on certain areas and takes attention away from other valuable natural conditions.
- The limits of constructivism are questioned in relation to science and how it fits into the social construction of nature.
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