Ecozoan

DEFINITION OF ECOZOANS

By Herman Greene and Gary Smith

Visit the Center for Ecozoic Studies

Ecozoans are people who

• are lovers of life . . . of all kinds of life,
• sentipiensan (feel-think) with Earth community,
• seek the wisdom of the lifeworld, and
• practice in pursuit of an ecological age.

Gary Smith, a Vermont bioregional “enlivenment” practitioner, wrote:

Ecozoans choose to model “living into” a continual reframing of societies, toward more healthful, respectful, and deepening relationships among our human societies and the living fabric of life that is Earth.

Choosing to live at the ever-changing edge of this relationship, ecozoans commit to participatory evolution of human societies including the structures and enterprises necessary for our collective success, in a manner that promotes and makes manifest mutual “thrivance” with the entire tapestry of life!

MEANING OF “ECOZOIC”

Ecozoic is based on two Greek words—oikos meaning house, and zoikos meaning of animals (zoikos is based on the Greek word zoion meaning living being).

More simply put, ecozoic is based on eco meaning house and zoic meaning life. Putting these together, ecozoic means “house of life.” “House” as used here refers to our Earth home.

Ecozoic shares the same root word as economics and ecology. Based on their root words, economics means the norms or rules of the house, ecology means the logic or study of the house, and ecozoic means the life of the house.

Ecozoic has additional meaning when used to refer to the Ecozoic era. Thomas Berry believed and many today believe that we are currently in a period of mass extinction and other ecosystem disturbance that is bringing to an end the Cenozoic era of Earth’s history (which began 65 million years ago after the extinction of the dinosaurs and many other species). What will follow is not clear. If we are to succeed and if nature as we know it is to flourish, then major changes will be needed in the way we live. As Thomas Berry said, “While humans cannot make a blade of grass, there is liable not to be a blade of grass unless it is accepted, protected and fostered by humans.” We will be involved in the future of our planet as never before.  What will we make of it?

If we approach our role based on a “use” relationship, we will not succeed. We must open ourselves to intimate presence to, and an integral understanding of, nature. The “Ecozoic era” represents the promise that Earth’s future will be “a time of a mutually enhancing relationship among humans and the larger community of life and life systems.”