23 Questions
What does social construction theory emphasize?
The influence of beliefs and practices on our understanding of the world
What does the Thomas Theorem suggest?
Situations perceived as real have real consequences
In the context of social construction, how are 'wilderness' and 'nature' generally viewed?
As separate from society due to constructed beliefs
What is the focus of constructivists according to the text?
How concepts, beliefs, and practices shape our understanding of the world
What is the theory that all beliefs, truths, and facts are socially constructed in a particular social context?
Relativism
What theory argues that humans and nonhumans produce and change one another through interactions?
Co-production
What is the practice of deciding what to observe and what observations mean as humans in a social context?
Socially constructed science
What theory relies on objectivism to prove its point but challenges ideas of desertification using science?
Constructivist paradox
What is the concept that argues that there are influences other than social context, especially in a physical world?
Shades of relativism
Who decides what counts as 'good science' and the topics that interest the scientific community and the agencies that fund them?
Social constructivists
What is the alternative concept to relativism, arguing that humans and nonhumans produce and change one another through interactions?
Co-production
What theory argues that all beliefs, truths, and facts are socially constructed but admits influences other than social context, especially in a physical world?
Shades of relativism
What are some meanings associated with the word 'nature'?
Essential quality, inherent force, and the material world itself
How is the understanding of 'nature' influenced?
By social context, including cultural and belief systems, economic relations, and governance
What are 'nature' and 'natural properties' considered as part of?
Social reality
How have concepts like race been socially constructed?
As natural
How did the social construction of 'New World' natures justify European actions?
Displacing indigenous inhabitants
What can materially change the world according to the text?
Environmental discourse consisting of narrative, concept, ideology, and signifying practices.
How is environmental discourse created and sustained?
By powerful institutions and people.
What is conflicting about the discourse of North African desertification according to the text?
Evidence from different time periods suggests different trends.
What may the discourse of North African desertification support according to the text?
Specific interests and benefit certain groups.
What cultural context is the concept of 'wilderness' specific to?
Western European cultures
What does the concept of 'wilderness' take attention away from according to the text?
Other valuable natural conditions.
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.
Test your knowledge on the social construction of nature with this quiz. Explore topics such as environmental discourse, constructivism, and the perception of 'remote' and unaffected places.
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