Meanings
plural ecosophies
- countableuncountableEcological philosophy, particularly of the type associated with the deep ecology movement.
[…] ecosophy argues that an individual should act in such a way as to “do as little harm as possible.” The “oath” of those committed to ecosophy closely parallels that of medical doctors: Above all else do no harm.
1996, Donald T. Wells, Environmental Policy: A Global Perspective for the Twenty-first Century, →ISBN2 more examples
But Tompkins and his wife Kristine (former head of the Patagonia outdoor-clothing brand), claim to be committed to Deep Ecology, a radically conservationist, holistic "ecosophy" first articulated in the 1970s by Norwegian mountaineer-philosopher Arne Naess.
2002 November 30, Chris Moss, “The ultimate wilderness”, in The Guardian, →ISSNHis ideas on ecology and ecosophy were developed in numerous books and articles, notably “Freedom, Emotion and Self-Subsistence” (1975), “Ecology, Community and Lifestyle” (1989) and “Life’s Philosophy: Reason and Feeling in a Deeper World” (2002).
2009 January 15, William Grimes, “Arne Naess, Norwegian Philosopher, Dies at 96”, in New York Times
Origin
Blend of ecology + philosophy, coined by Félix Guattari and Arne Næss.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French écosophie
- écosophieTranslations
German Ökosophie
- ÖkosophieTranslations
Cite this entry
ecosophy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ecosophy
“ecosophy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ecosophy. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ecosophy,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ecosophy.
Source: ecosophy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.