Going beyond the Wild: An Ecosophical Exploration of Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild

Abstract

This paper, titled "Going beyond the Wild: An Ecosophical Exploration of Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild analyzes Krakauer's biography of Christopher McCandless through the lens of ecosophy, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human subjectivity, the environment, and social relations. To navigate the complex and intersecting themes in the text, the paper adopts the insights of leading eco-critics and philosophers, such as Arne Naess and Felix Guattari, who advocate for an ecological philosophy, Eco-sophy, which studies the complex phenomena of human subjectivity, environment, and social relations, all of which are intimately interconnected. The approach suggested by Naess and Guattari provides a powerful and illuminating framework for interrogating the issues raised in the text. The paper examines how Into the Wild depicts a young man's quest for meaning and transcendence, drawing inspiration from literary figures such as Leo Tolstoy and Thoreau. By examining McCandless' journey, the analysis highlights how it may no longer be possible to consider nature and culture as two separate entities due to the domestication of nature and humans alike. Additionally, the analysis further discusses the potential reasons why individuals such as McCandless may feel a need to turn to nature as a solution for the problems they may experience in their lives.

Keywords: Ecocriticism, Deep Ecology, Eco-Sophy, Interconnectedness, Transcendentalism