Thomas Berry (1914-2009)

[Kanoasurfer]

for those commenting on how capitalism is not at fault, but its misuse, or other similar arguments....capitalism is founded on two things: 1. competition and 2. drive for profits.

Competition is nothing more than the ethic of elimination and profit is nothing more than the pursuit of self interest. Nature hardly works like this. Your heart doesn't compete with your lungs, they work together. Berry got it and I'm glad I was introduced; my life has been better by having known his works. Peace,

[fardavari]

*****

[steveeb58]

*****

[ubuibiok]

2010 is Here...

[hellgod666]

If we were to follow this philosophy then the only outcome is to kill your self because we harm the Earth just by existing or run wild naked in the jungles.

[0ThouArtThat0]

You have completely misunderstood the message.

[theDracoIX]

Yea, let's kill the humans to save the earth. Guh. No wait, just tax us for breathing - that'll work.

This earth worship is just a clever way of oppressing humans. If we are destroying the earth - than c'est la vie.

Nothing lasts forever, so let's just enjoy our time while we have it. I don't care to extend the life of the earth if it means having my most basic rights taken away. Which is where this is headed.

[0ThouArtThat0]

It's easy to caricature Berry, as you've done here. Humans have rights, he is not denying that. But with our rights come responsibilities to the rest of the community of life. Earth produced us and sustains us; our health depends on its health. It's true, nothing lasts forever, but unless our civilization transforms in the next century, our species will meet extinction far faster than most mammals have, and we will have taken millions of other species with us.

[0ThouArtThat0]

I think humans have a right to survival, too. That's why I think it is so important for us to rethink the industrial growth model that is causing the current mass extinction and climate changes. We are destroying the earth, yes; but also ourselves.

[Tusek420]

Exactly...First time I watched this I even felt uncomfortable with that "Earth-Mankind" dichotomy - As if we are any different from Earth. As you said, we came from it, our health depends on it's health ... We are not killing Earth. We are killing ourselves.

Check this out: /watch?v=ghJrEIQ7k4Y

[hellgod666]

This is not true, our species is seeing a boom in human life expectancy. As capitalism and industry grow so is our health and prosperity. Look at former communist countries or North Korea, were people are in extreme poverty and living off of the land and dirt. They are truly living Tom Berry's "Great Work" in his point of view because there is no capitalism or industry or technology.

[0ThouArtThat0]

Google "mass extinction" and do some research on what our supposed "health and prosperity" (which I would argue with... global capitalism advances only be destroying local community and psychospiritual integrity) is doing to the rest of the non-human earth community.

If you're still optimistic about the trajectory of our species should the trend toward total commodification of life continue, Google "food crisis."

[hellgod666]

Capitalism does not destroy the environment it is the unethical corporations that misuse capitalism. Did you know that there are corporations and industry that are eco-friendly? And this notion that capitalism is evil is ridiculous. It is what brought us out of the caves and jungles. Read Ayn Rand

[0ThouArtThat0]

Rand? She needs a feminist critique. Read Donna Haraway.

[silversoul7]

She needs more than a feminist critique. She needs an economic critique, a metaphysical critique, a epistemological critique, an ethical critique, etc.

I've yet to see any philosopher so far off-base as her.

[spitindatroof]

I agree that Rand is way off base, especially her ethical ideas, which are built on very faulty metaphysical assumptions. As far as this whole idea that "capitalism" (whatever that word means anymore... everyone has a different idea of what it is) in a general sense is destroying the world seems to be a bit oversimplified. Look at what the alarmists were predicting back in the 60s and 70s. Look into John Holdren and his solutions in his textbook "Ecoscience".

[silversoul7]

I agree it's oversimplified. James Lovelock talks about how in many ways life on earth has adapted to us, so it would be unwise to reduce our "ecological footprint" down to zero. I also don't like alarmists, but mainly because if they're right we're doomed anyway. I side with cautious optimism: the recognition that there is a problem, along with the hope that we can solve the problem. Sometimes I wonder if this optimism is naive, but it's all I've got, and if I'm wrong I'll die anyway.

[skoolvids01]

The variety of ignorance apparent in your comment is by far the most oppressive force on earth. Too much Fox News I suspect.

[9macrina9]

"So what is inward turns outward

as does, we are told, the Kingdom of God.

So we contain that which contains us.

So the departed come to light"

-------Wendell Berry

[staylopictures]

Berry's thinking on education deserves serious consideration. Anyone who has taught for much time in urban schools quickly recognizes the truth and value of these ideas.

[deevinewizzdumb]

I think this is possible when people start to wear their beliefs in their HEARTS instead of on their sleeves. Thank you for this.

[zezt]

Beautiful powerful Elder!

[SOCRATES012]

Smart man :)

[EROSGODOFGAYS]

Brilliant man

[HaleyMary]

Awesome video. Thanks for posting. :)

[Biochematics]

I really liked this one.

[givebirthathome]

I'm the 108th view : )

[ytcomposer]

Fantastic, my friend. Thank you.

[atomarane]

Thanks for sharing, Matt.

[cloudmonkeys]

'...the glory of the human has become the desolation of the earth and now the desolation of the earth is becoming the destiny of the human'

[m60yaface]

A TRUE GREAT MIND ! and a beautiful man! rest in peace thomas berry

he was a stunningly coherent person !

[IChoseTheRedPill]

awesome...

[tattooskin72]

some beautiful words from him :)

inspirational

[Torcika]

Great speech!