User:RobertBettmann/Somatic Ecology

The theory of Somatic Ecology relates Environmentalism to the Human Body. Developed by Robert Bettmann, Somatic Ecology builds off of the theories of Deep Ecology, and Ecofeminism. Those theories seek a unifying root to the Environmental Crisis, and identify the relationship of Man to the Natural World as the problem.

Somatic Ecology offers that changing the relationship to the human body may change the problematic relationship to the natural world (identified by Deep Ecologists and Ecofeminists.) Tracking the historical development of the human relationship to Nature, one sees that the isolation of Humanity from Nature is tied to the isolation of the Human from the Human Body. Somatic Ecology states that in order to reconnect Humanity and Nature, we must start by reconnecting Humanity with the Human part of Nature: the Human Body. Existing conceptual divisions might be bridged through the practice of Somatic training methodologies, including dance.

Development of the idea:

The theory of Somatic Ecology was first formulated by Robert Bettmann in 1996 while an undergraduate at Oberlin College. While finishing his Junior year and preparing to develop an honors thesis on Environment and Security issues, Bettmann's advisor, Dr. David Orr, suggested he check out a new book by David Abram (The Spell of the Sensuous.) Abram's book suggests a connection between how we relate to the natural world, and how we perceive the natural world. Prompted by Abram's investigation, Bettmann began considering parallels between the relationship to the human body, and the relationship to the natural world.