科学をどう捉えて環境を学び教えるか

抄録

  This paper discusses the relationship between environmental education and understanding the essence of science and scientific culture. When learning and teaching about the environment, it is important to understand the essence of natural science. This is because modern civilization is a scientific civilization, and environmental issues in our society are intimately connected to science and technology. Given that science and technology can be considered part of the human environment, this paper equates considering what science and technology should be to considering what the human environment should be—environmental education, in other words.

  In addition to verifiability, reproducibility, and objectivity, uncertainty is also a property of science. However, the government curriculum guidelines in Japan are not based on the scientific view of the uncertainty of scientific knowledge.

  Even so, when citizens critically evaluate science and technology, participate in the planning of science and technology governance, and make decisions about the state of science and technology based on scientific evidence, it is important to have a foundational understanding of the nature of scientific knowledge, which is constantly being modified and updated. Environmental education can be described as essential to promoting an understanding of the essence of science.

  Finally, this paper notes the issues facing modern science-based civilization, citing the arguments of comparative civilization scholars. It articulates a role for environmental education in reexamining the limits of a science-based civilization and assisting future generations to imagine a new civilization in which they can enjoy spiritual richness.