THE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY LIFESTYLE: SIMPLE OR COMPLICATED?

• Authors: Librova Hana
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Simplicity is generally considered an important characteristic of the environmentally friendly lifestyle. This article questions this tenet. Nine dimensions of simplicity are proposed: non-ownership, lack of power, aesthetics, behaviour, naturalness, freedom of movement, the sedentary life/faithfulness to a place, education, and living lightly. Using these categories, the question is asked whether the cultural stereotype of simplicity corresponds to reality. The images of the environmentally friendly lifestyles are analysed from an everyday perspective, including radical forms of self-sufficiency. The result is a conclusion contrary to the common belief: while the life of the typical consumerist is simple, the life of environmental virtue is complex. This finding directs attention to one part of N. Elias' sociological theory, which understands the civilisation process as the replacement of simple behaviour with complex rituals.

Keywords

EN

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY LIFESTYLE; NINE DIMENSIONS OF SIMPLICITY; SELF-SUFFICIENCY; VOLUNTARY SIMPLICITY

Discipline

• SOCIOLOGY: SOCIOLOGY

• Publisher: Institute of Sociology, Czech Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Sociologický časopis. Czech Sociological Review
• Year: 2008
• Volume: 44
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1111-1128
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Librova Hana

• Hana Librova, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Brno, 601 77, Czech Republic; http://dlib.lib.cas.cz/4380/

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

09CZAAAA062613