Transpersonal ecology-the idea of the this-worldly realization of as expansive a sense of self as possible-refers to a psychologically based approach to ecophilosophical problems. This idea raises the interesting question of how we might conceive of the most widely recognized approaches to ecophilosophy (i.e., instrumental and intrinsic value theory approaches) in psychological rather than axiological (i.e., value theory) terms. It is illuminating to approach this question by considering a well-known and apparently widely .accepted way of conceiving of human psychology or the selfThere is much theoretical and popular support for a dynamic, tripartite conception of the self. Specifically, most of us recognize a desiring-impulsive aspect of the self,a rationalizingdeciding aspect, and a normative-judgmental aspect. In fact, unless we are exceptionally well integrated, it is often more appropriate to speak not so much of three aspects of the self but rather of three selves. Thus, we can speak of a desiringimpulsive self, a rationalizing-deciding self, and a normativejudgmental self. It should of course be noted that these labels simply refer to hypothetical constructs. The validity of these constructs rests upon their usefulness in both describing certain recognizable systems ofthought and behavior and illuminating the dynamics between these systems (see Rowan, 1989). The desiring-impulsive self wants much (the desiring aspect) and wants it now (the impulsive aspect). This means that it From the forthcoming Towarda TranspersonalEcology.Copyright @ 1990 Warwick Fox. Printed by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, lnc., P.O. Box 308, Boston. MA 02117. conceiving approaches to ecophilosophy in psychological terms The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 1990, Vol. 22. No.1 59 the tripartite conception of self from Freudian and post- Freudian psychology functions without particular regard for others, the future, or the constraints that are imposed by reality in general. The normative-judgmental self sets standards or expectations on our behavior, whether in the moral sphere, where it decrees what ought to be and demands conformance with a certain code of conduct, or in other spheres of activity, where it also expects the attainment of certain standards of performance. It judges "us" (the other aspects of our self-or our other selves) critically if we fall short of its standards or expectations. The rationalizing-deciding self sees itself as the decision maker or the locus of control with respect to the three selves.This means that it mediates between the competing demands of the desiring-impulsive self, the normative-judgmental self, and the constraints that are imposed by reality
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