WORLD HERITAGE: THE DEMONSTRATION OF MODERN ANTHROPOCENTRISM
MENG Hua1,2,3, QIN Yao-chen1,2, LI Zheng-xin1,2
1. Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China;
2. College of Environment and Planning, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China;
3. Taishan College, Taian 271021, China
Abstract：Anthropocentrism suffers many doubts as global ecological crisis accelerates. This leads to the emergence of modern anthropocentrism. Modern anthropocentrism is closely related with the strategies of sustainable development for their identical historical background. They are oriented to strikingly similar values as well. Only by keeping to the self-consciousness of modern anthropocentrism can human beings im plement the strategies of sustainable development effectively and realize sustainable development. The idea of world heritage that also appears in the late 20th century as a result of environmental deterioration and ecological crisis, voices the wishes of different countries and nations. Modern anthropocentrism, the ideas of sustainable development and world heritage that all appear in the late 20th century are closely related with the problem of environment and they are concerned about the living environment of human beings from different le vels. Modern anthropocentrism is a kind of value of philosophical significance and lays the ethical foundation for the formation of sustainable development. World heritage as the concrete carrier of the historical development of the man-earth relationship produces evidence for modern anthropocentrism.Yet there is still a long way to go before modern anthropocentrism establishes itself in the world. According to Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, world heritages belong to all humanity, and they are protected by the international community. This accords with the proposition of modern anthropocentrism that advocates the central position of humanity and takes common benefits among human beings as the value scale. World heritage is of the greatest evidential significance to modern anthropocentrism and no other thing can take its place. World heritages are very important to human beings, for they connect the common benefits of human beings. Today, world heritages can undertake to carry out modern anthropocentrism and will become an apotheosis of realizing modern anthropocentrism. Therefore, some issues must be taken into concern. First, the value conception of modern anthropocentrism must be established in the world; secondly, more importance should be attached to world heritages, especially in academia; thirdly, it is essential that world heritages should be protected and exploited more properly.
孟华, 秦耀辰, 李政新. 世界遗产:现代人类中心主义的实证[J]. 人文地理, 2006, 21(2): 60-64.
MENG Hua, QIN Yao-chen, LI Zheng-xin. WORLD HERITAGE: THE DEMONSTRATION OF MODERN ANTHROPOCENTRISM. HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, 2006, 21(2): 60-64.
