Charting The Development and Intersection of Agrarianism, Transcendentalism and Ecocriticism

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26594/diglossia.v15i1.3323

Abstract

Abstract
This paper charts the emergence of agrarianism as a philosophical thought, situates its development within other ideas such as Romanticism and Transcendentalism, and how agrarian thought intertwined with
ecocritical literary analysis. The premise of this study is that within the current state of environmental crisis and degradation, the insight from agrarianism can provide an alternative environmental imagination to
reconsider the position of humanity in the wider world. This study applies intellectual history as the framework on how the concepts and theories interacted and influenced other social/cultural/intellectual developments. Agrarianism celebrates rural life and agriculture as a response to industrialization, championed by thinkers like Emerson and Thoreau, who see it as a path to a more meaningful existence. It then examines how agrarianism intersects with ecocriticism, an environmental literary perspective that emerged in the 1960s. Agrarianism contributes significantly to ecocriticism, particularly in its critique of industrialization, exemplified by Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring." Both perspectives emphasize a holistic approach to the environment, emphasizing the interconnectedness of humans and nature. Wendell Berry's ecological agrarianism embodies these principles, stressing sustainable agriculture and environmental care. In conclusion, this paper highlights agrarianism's historical significance and contemporary relevance, illustrating its convergence with ecocriticism in their shared commitment to environmental ethics and preserving the natural world.

Keywords: Agrarianism, ecocriticism, environmental philosophy, transcendentalism
Abstrak
Tulisan ini memetakan kemunculan agrarianisme sebagai sebuah pemikiran filosofis, menempatkan perkembangannya dalam gagasan lain seperti Romantisisme dan Transendentalisme, dan mengkonstruksikan korelasi pemikiran agrarian dengan analisis sastra ekokritik. Premis penelitian ini adalah dalam kondisi krisis dan degradasi lingkungan yang dihadapi masyarakat secara global, wawasan agrarianisme dapat memberikan alternatif imajinasi lingkungan untuk mempertimbangkan
kembali posisi umat manusia di dunia yang lebih luas. Penelitian ini mengadopsi sejarah intelektual sebagai kerangka kerja untuk memahami bagaimana konsep dan teori-teori tersebut saling berinteraksi dan
memengaruhi perkembangan sosial, budaya, dan intelektual lainnya. Agrarianisme merayakan kehidupan pedesaan dan pertanian sebagai respons terhadap industrialisasi, dipromosikan oleh pemikir seperti
Emerson dan Thoreau yang melihatnya sebagai jalan menuju keberadaan yang lebih bermakna. Kemudian, makalah ini mencermati bagaimana agrarianisme mempunyai kesamaan perspektif dengan ekokritik,
perspektif sastra lingkungan yang muncul pada tahun 1960-an. Agrarianisme memberikan kontribusi besar bagi ekokritik, terutama dalam kritiknya terhadap industrialisasi, yang diwakili oleh "Silent Spring" karya
Rachel Carson. Keduanya menekankan pendekatan holistik terhadap lingkungan, menekankan keterkaitan antara manusia dan alam. Agrarianisme ekologis Wendell Berry mewujudkan prinsip-prinsip ini, menekankan pertanian berkelanjutan dan perawatan lingkungan. Sebagai kesimpulan, makalah ini menyoroti signifikansi historis agrarianisme dan relevansinya dalam konteks kontemporer, menggambarkan konvergensinya dengan ekokritik dalam komitmen bersama terhadap etika lingkungan dan pelestarian dunia alam.
Kata kunci : agrarianism, filosofi lingkungan, transcendentalisme, ekokritik

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2023-11-24

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