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Title ANTHROPOCENTRIC ATTITUDE: A STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN BACIGALUPI'S SHIP BREAKER TRILOGY

Author(s) ABDUL WADOOD AWAN

Abstract Title: Anthropocentric Attitude: A Study of Environmental Degradation in Bacigalupi's Ship Breaker Trilogy This study explores anthropocentrism as a major cause for environmental degradation. The study revolves around the causes of anthropocentric attitude in human beings and its impact on the stability of ecosystem. Consequently, the research discloses the anthropocentrism as a ‘nature-killer’ though the lens of Taylor’s concepts of biocentrism egalitarianism, extractivism, respect for nature and techno-centric society as stimulator of anthropocentrism. Content analysis is used as a method for the analysis of the selected texts but it is further delimited to the Krippendorff, Klaus qualitative content analysis. By delimiting the research to the ‘Ship Breaker’ trilogy of Paolo Bachigalupi, this research demonstrates the causes of anthropocentric attitude that considers man ‘as the measure of all things in the universe’ and ultimately results in climate-change and its devastating consequences. Moreover, the selected texts also pinpoint how ‘unbridled techno-centric society’ that forego its reverence for a stable ecosystem and human beings’ pursuit of resource extraction as the major cause of environmental catastrophe. In addition, this research also explores the consequences of ‘othering’ of environment or nature, in the form of social chaos and environment degradation such as climate change, global warming, landscape and habitat loss, melting of ice-caps and extinction of various species. Furthermore, concepts of the social unrest, lack of political government and rise of corporates, “unbridled use of advanced technology” for devising warfare superhuman bodies, and climate refugees are also explored in the light of selected texts. The significance of this study lies in its ability to provide a robust ethical lens through which to examine the environmental themes in Bacigalupi's Ship Breaker trilogy. Moreover, the current study, by adopting content analysis as a research method, is likely to be a significant contribution to the production of knowledge in the area of Eco critical studies. This study concludes that the anthropocentric attitude and unchecked activities of the characters in the novel have contributed to the devastation of the ecosystem.

Type Thesis/Dissertation MS

Faculty Languages

Department English

Language English

Publication Date 2024-09-04

Subject Literature

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