Deconstructing the Modernist Myth in IshmaelWhen I read Daniel Quinn's works, Ishmael, Providence, The Story of B, and My Ishmael, I find a common theme woven throughout which is to deconstruct the modernist myth that we are separate from nature and therefore not subject to natural law. I don't find Quinn's ideas very different from what I read in David Orr's Earth in Mind or David Ehrenfeld's books Beginning Again and The Arrogance of Humanism. I doubt that Quinn, as a writer, thinks for a single minute that we are any different from the other species that populate the Earth. Language separates us, and writers probably know this better than any of us. Maybe I shouldn't have taken his quotes out of context. Or maybe you had some other reason to be so quick to criticize Quinn. If the use of the word "stewardship" truly "instills a healthy dose of love and responsibility for the natural world" as you suggest, I don't think I believe Quinn, Ehrenfeld or Orr would have much problem if we used it as a discussion platform moving forward . But I suspect that all three authors fear that most of us do not distinguish between "administration" and "domination", and that our "administration" will probably not be practiced with sufficient humility, for example with the use of "principles precautions,” recognition of how little we really know, to make it a useful starting point. If we stick with “management,” it will be up to us to prove them wrong. Assuming, of course, that they agree with what I have said on their behalf. Does this mean we should throw away science or management, or even abandon the word “administration”? No, at least "no" as far as science and management are concerned. I still wonder about our choice to use the word “management”. I'm mostly fine with it, but only if we take time to process the baggage he brings with him. Mostly, though, we need to challenge theories, assumptions, and try to make sure they are well-established. “rooting” theory and practice in pluralistic reality is what my favorite postmodern writers seem to challenge us to do. But here lies a problem. My problem. Perhaps the writers I am referring to – Anderson, Borgmann (Crossing the Postmodern Divide), Ehrenfeld, Merchant (The Death of Nature, Ecology: Key Concepts in Critical Theory), Orr, Quinn and others – do not fall under the label “postmodern ”. deconstructionists.