After listening to the Shelter group’s presentation, I am really intrigued by how and why sustainable housing is becoming a bit of a social movement. Although I think many people are getting on the bandwagon solely because of cost-efficiency, its still great that this movement’s values fit with many of the ethical perspectives we’ve studied in class. Hopefully this means that as people adopt new habits that are economically efficient, they also slowly internalize the ethical and environmental purposes behind these innovations and living styles. I find that the Tiny House movement fits well with Deep Ecology’s emphasis on self-realization not by material goods, but in understanding how to live simply and according to necessity.
Even though I sometimes find Deep Ecology to be an abstract or academic approach, the Tiny House movement’s connection to this ethical theory proves otherwise, as anyone could lead this minimalist lifestyle (as soon as their basic needs are met from the lower direction, of course). I think that the premise behind the Tiny House movement is part of the Deep Ecologist’s path toward a “good life…spent in pursuit of basic and true interests” (DJ 216). More importantly, I do not think everyone must adopt the most extreme version of the tiny house; rather, the lifestyle that reflects these assumptions about basic needs will naturally meet the standards for a good life. To me, there is serious hope and optimism in the sustainable housing movement for fostering an ethical approach with the environment in mind, as many of these strategies seem like common sense rather than radical, Leftist plans to turn the country into a fascist regime that forces you and your family to cower in a 400 square foot shack.
Even though I sometimes find Deep Ecology to be an abstract or academic approach, the Tiny House movement’s connection to this ethical theory proves otherwise, as anyone could lead this minimalist lifestyle (as soon as their basic needs are met from the lower direction, of course). I think that the premise behind the Tiny House movement is part of the Deep Ecologist’s path toward a “good life…spent in pursuit of basic and true interests” (DJ 216). More importantly, I do not think everyone must adopt the most extreme version of the tiny house; rather, the lifestyle that reflects these assumptions about basic needs will naturally meet the standards for a good life. To me, there is serious hope and optimism in the sustainable housing movement for fostering an ethical approach with the environment in mind, as many of these strategies seem like common sense rather than radical, Leftist plans to turn the country into a fascist regime that forces you and your family to cower in a 400 square foot shack.
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