Reference no: EM132972538

Assignment One: Critical, ecological, autobiography

Background:
This subject presents an argument that the dominant paradigm of thought in Western society, based on the principles and values of modernity, has resulted in the development of a particular type of relationship between humans and the non-human world. The consequences of this relationship are evident in the ecological crisis and climate emergency that now confront the globe. The modernist paradigm has also shaped the nature of social welfare theory and practice. A new paradigm, based on an expanded ecological awareness is proposed as a pathway forward, both in a broad ontological sense and, more particularly, within the social welfare professions. The subject exposes students to a range of conceptual and theoretical material that support this analysis.

However, if we as individuals, and as future social welfare practitioners, hope to make a contribution to the social transformation suggested by this material, then we must also become critically conscious of the ways in which the dominant paradigm has shaped our own understanding of, and relationship to, the non-human world and to issues such as the climate emergency. In other words, we must use the tools of critical reflection to expose and understand the nature of our own lived experience and the connection between this unique biographical story and the broader issues of eco-social justice.

This assignment aims to allow you to construct bridges of understanding between abstract conceptual material (such as the concepts of modernity, anthropocentrism, and ecological justice), the ecological crisis and climate emergency, and your own experience by writing about your own experience in a critically reflective manner, informed and framed by your engagement with these concepts and ideas. In this sense, this assignment represents an autobiographically informed account of your understanding of the material presented in the first half of the subject.

Critical reflection can be conceived of and defined in a range of ways, however, for the purpose of this assignment, critical reflection can be thought of as involving thinking back over, then critically commenting on, what has happened in your own life/experience, using the material presented in the subject to shape and inform your commentary. The idea is that such reflection may lead to new learning and insights, which can then be used to improve future action and practice.

The Task:
Write a critically reflective account of your own life/experience. The account must:

- focus on the nature of your relationship with the non-human world and the current climate emergency,
- link your personal experience to a demonstration of your understanding of the subject material, including (for example) principles and values of modernity, sustainability, the concept of anthropocentrism, the nature of the current climate emergency and ecological crisis etc.
- discuss the implications of your biographical experience and conceptual understanding for your own future social welfare practice.

Attachment:- ecological and autobiography.rar