The Role of Environmental Education in Transition from Anthropocentrism to Ecocentrism
Assist. Prof. Dr. Abdullah Karataş

Abstract
Today, global environmental problems are seriously perceived in everyfields of daily life so people extremely need to gain awareness on this issue. Although bans and laws are effective enough in combating environmental problems, the desired results can not be reached without changing people's environmental perspectives. Anthropocentric view has brought together many of the major environmental disasters and has led to the destruction and exploitation of nature for the sake of more profit. However, people can not cope with environmental problems those they caused. Disappearing ecosystems, disrupted natural balance, desertification and endangered species threaten future generations. Without changing environmental perspective of the community, producing permanent solutions to environmental problems is difficult. Environmental education will be able to guide the activities to be performed to prevent environmental problems. Environmentally-conscious generations by environmental education could play an active role in solving environmental problems in the future. These generations will not be the cause of these problems but part of the solution. In this theoretical study, the role of environmental education in transition from anthropocentrism to ecocentrism will be dicussed.

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