A worldview is like a pair of glasses shared by a group of people. It shapes how they see life, including nature, society, and the environment.
Simple definition
A worldview is a broad way of understanding the world.
It helps people answer big questions such as:
- What is the purpose of life? — Some worldviews focus on spiritual growth, while others focus on personal success and money.
- What is right and wrong? — Some worldviews believe harming animals is always wrong, while others put human needs first.
- How should humans treat nature? — Some worldviews believe nature should be protected, while others see it as a resource for human use.
What shapes a worldview?
- Culture, religion, or social group — Many Indigenous communities believe humans are part of nature, so resources are used carefully.
- Family, education, and media — Watching nature documentaries can encourage support for environmental protection.
- Deep and long-lasting — Traditions such as hunting may continue for generations, even when wildlife declines.
Perspective vs Worldview
- Perspective
- A view on one specific issue. Usually short-term, personal, and easier to change.
- Worldview
- A general belief system that shapes many perspectives. Long-term, shared by groups, and slow to change.
Examples:
- Perspective — Plastic bags should be banned because they harm sea turtles.
- Worldview — Nature should be protected even if it reduces profit.
Comparison
| Perspective | Worldview |
|---|---|
| Opinion on one issue | General way of seeing the world |
| Changes easily | Slow to change |
| Personal | Shared by a group |
| Cutting forests reduces habitats | Humans should live in balance with nature |
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Major types of worldviews
1. Imperialist worldview
This worldview places humans above nature. It often believes humans have the right to control nature, sometimes based on religious beliefs or confidence in science and technology.
- Building large dams to control rivers for electricity, even if ecosystems are flooded.
- Clearing rainforests for farming because human economic needs come first.
2. Stewardship worldview
Humans are separate from nature but have a responsibility to look after it. Nature should be managed carefully so it can support both present and future generations.
- A farmer rotates crops to protect soil quality.
- Fishing limits are set to prevent overfishing while allowing fishing to continue.
3. Romantic worldview
Nature is valued for its beauty and emotional importance. People support protection because nature is seen as special or inspiring.
- Protecting a mountain area because it is beautiful.
- Opposing a wind farm because it would spoil a natural view.
4. Utilitarian worldview
Nature is valued for the benefits it provides to humans. Actions are supported if they help the greatest number of people.
- Protecting forests because they provide clean water to cities.
- Protecting bees because they pollinate crops needed for food production.
5. Animism
Animism sees humans as part of nature, not separate from it. Living and non-living things are deeply connected and treated with respect.
This worldview is common in many Indigenous cultures. It creates a two-way relationship: if you take something from nature, you must give something back.
- Planting trees to replace those that are cut down.
- Taking only enough fish to feed the community.
- Refusing mining on a mountain because it is seen as sacred.
Human–nature dualism vs Humans as part of nature
These are two contrasting ways of understanding the relationship between humans and the environment:
| Human–nature dualism | Humans as part of nature |
|---|---|
| Humans are separate from nature | Humans are connected to ecosystems |
| Nature is a resource to be used | Damaging nature harms humans too |
| Focus on control and use | Focus on balance and care |
| "Technology will solve climate change." | "We must change how we live." |
| "Forests exist for timber." | "Forests are essential for life." |
Where do the worldviews fit?
- Human–nature dualism — Imperialist and some Utilitarian views
- Humans as part of nature — Animism view
- In between — Stewardship and Romantic worldviews
Exam tip: When comparing worldviews, explain how each would respond differently to the same issue (e.g. deforestation, mining, or climate change).
What shapes our worldviews?
People's perspectives and worldviews are shaped by many external influences — culture, science, laws, religion, economics, demographics, events, and lived experience.
These influences explain why people understand environmental issues differently and why groups disagree about solutions.
Main influences
| Influence | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Social and cultural norms | Common behaviours and values in a community | In some cultures, wasting food is seen as very disrespectful |
| Scientific knowledge | Evidence that helps people understand problems | Learning that wildlife numbers are falling increases concern for biodiversity |
| Laws | Rules that guide behaviour and reflect values | Food waste laws can change how people think about throwing food away |
| Religion | Beliefs about humans and nature | Many religions teach people to care for the Earth |
| Economic situation | Jobs and income affect priorities | People may resist change if it threatens their jobs |
| Campaigns | Messages designed to change behaviour | Anti-plastic campaigns show harm to wildlife |
| Age and background | Different groups often share similar views | Young people often see climate change as urgent |
| Events | Major events that affect opinions | Climate protests increased support for climate action |
| Personal experiences | Direct experience with environmental problems | Experiencing floods or fires makes climate change feel real |
How these influences work together
These influences often overlap and strengthen each other.
- Religion may teach respect for nature
- Community habits may support recycling
- Science may explain environmental damage
- A local disaster may make the issue personal
Together, they shape how a person responds to environmental issues.
Key idea: Worldviews develop over time. Understanding what shapes them helps explain why people think differently about the environment.
Why this matters in ESS
Disagreements about environmental issues often happen because people are shaped by different influences:
- A farmer worried about income may support development
- A scientist may focus on protecting ecosystems
- Someone affected by a flood may support urgent action
Exam tip: When explaining disagreements, link each group's view to the influences that shaped it. Always explain why they think that way.
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Why worldviews are hard to change
- People feel their worldview is part of their identity, so changing it feels uncomfortable.
- Family, culture, religion, and community reinforce these views from a young age.
- Confirmation bias: people focus on information that supports existing beliefs and ignore conflicting evidence.
Why worldviews matter in ESS
Worldviews influence how people understand environmental problems such as climate change, pollution, and deforestation.
Different people may propose different solutions to the same issue because their worldviews shape what they consider important.
Example: One worldview may prioritise protecting nature, while another may prioritise jobs and economic growth.
Key idea: Worldviews shape environmental debates, decisions, and conflicts.
One simple way to see how worldviews influence environmental debates is by using behaviour over time graphs. These graphs show how things like pollution or resource use change over many years.
How to read a behaviour over time graph
Ask yourself these quick questions:
- What is being measured? — check the title
- What do the axes show? — time on the bottom, amount on the side
- Is it rising or falling?
- Who is higher or lower?
- Anything surprising?
Case study: CO₂ emissions — who should take responsibility?
- greenhouse gas
- Gases like CO₂ and methane that trap heat in the atmosphere, causing global warming.
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the main greenhouse gas causing climate change. But countries disagree about who should reduce emissions first.
This graph shows CO₂ emissions per person in different countries. It does not show total national emissions.
What the graph shows
- USA — Very high emissions per person, slowly decreasing
- Germany & UK — High in the past, now falling faster
- China — Rose quickly from very low levels
- India — Still very low per person, but slowly increasing
- Brazil — Low and fairly stable
The big question: Who should cut emissions?
Different arguments use different measures:
- "Rich countries should cut first" — Based on high historical and per-person emissions.
- "China and India must act now" — Based on high total emissions when population size is considered (not shown directly in this graph).
- "Developing countries need time" — Based on very low emissions per person, especially in India.
How different worldviews interpret the same data
| Worldview | How they see the data |
|---|---|
| Imperialist | Technology will fix the problem, so economic growth can continue. |
| Stewardship | Everyone must reduce emissions, but richer countries should help poorer ones. |
| Utilitarian | Cut emissions where it is cheapest and most effective. |
| Animism | Humans have taken too much from nature and must restore balance. |
Key insight: The same emissions data can support different arguments, depending on whether we look at per person or total emissions.
Exam tip: Always say whether data is per person or total. This shows evaluation and avoids incorrect conclusions.