Making Wonderful: Ideological Roots of Our Eco-Catastrophe

In Making Wonderful, Martin M. Tweedale explores how an ideology of progress in the West, driven by the belief in an eventual future rid of human ills, has led to ecological disaster. He traces the origins of this myth to Zoroastrianism and its influence on Jewish apocalyptic works, ultimately resulting in the Western doctrine of progress, an almost religious faith in the capacity of science and technology to improve human life.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 464 pages
Publication date: 16 February 2023
Publisher: University of Alberta Press

Martin M. Tweedale's book, "Making Wonderful," delves into the origins of an ideology that fueled an economic expansion, resulting in devastating ecological consequences. Tweedale takes us on a journey back to the rise of cities and autocratic rulers, where respect for custom and tradition gave way to the dominance of top-down rational planning and organization. In response, a captivating myth emerged, promising a future rid of all humankind's ills. This myth, originating in Zoroastrianism and later permeating Jewish apocalyptic works, found its way into early Christianity, giving rise to utopian beliefs that set the West apart from other civilizations. Tweedale meticulously explores how these beliefs gained popularity among Western elites during the early modern period, ultimately leading to the development of the distinctly Western doctrine of progress. This doctrine, an almost religious faith in the capacity of science and technology to improve human life, liberated economic expansion from traditional constraints, paving the way for our current environmental emergency. By delving into sources from philosophy, religion, and the history of ideas, "Making Wonderful" appeals to readers with a intellectual curiosity about the roots of our eco-catastrophe.

Weight: 650g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781772126242