美国早期生态观的历史考察

直至1850年，美洲大陆仍普遍存在着两种水火不容的环境理念，一方面是欧洲殖民者长期抱有的“人类独尊”思想，即人与自然并非平等共生，环境理所当然处于从属地位；另一方面则是印第安部落“天人合一”的生态传统和泛灵信仰。因而，在19世纪中叶以前，美洲大陆上的欧洲移民与印第安土著之间，基于两种截然不同的生态观曾展开过一场拉锯战——前者为了掠夺辽阔土地上的森林、动物和耕地而战，后者则为坚持其朴素的环保传统而战。

A Historical Study of American Early Ecological Concepts

Up to 1850s, there had generally been two conflicting attitudes toward nature in American continent. One is the philosophy held by European colonists that humans are separated from nature and hold a predominant place; the other is the Indians＇ ecological tradition and animistic belief which emphasizes the harmonious coexistence between nature and humans. Therefore, years before the mid of 19th century, America witnessed a seesaw battle based on the two opposite environmental concepts between European migrants and Indians --the former plundered the forests, the animals and the farms on the vast land whereas the latter fought for their plain ecological tradition.