In this chapter it is argued that many of issues faced by the world today have been brought about by the rise of a worldview where culture is deemed to be separate from nature, and human desires are placed before all else.

Chapter 3 charts the rise of this anthropocentrism, examining how the worldview prevalent in the West developed over time: from Classical philosophy, through medieval thought, before being dramatically altered by the Enlightenment.

This chapter will also consider the worldviews of non-western cultures – do they have anything to teach us about sustainability?