论约翰·巴勒斯的简单生活观

John Burroughs's Outlook upon Simple Life

与消费文化的世界观有所不同,简单生活观要求人们抵制消费主义对生活的不利影响,腾出更多时间与精力去充实精神世界。简化物质需求、减轻对生态承载的压力、追求充盈的精神生活是自然文学作家的重要哲学理念。作为19世纪后半叶最有声望的自然文学作家,约翰·巴勒斯提倡并践行简单生活观,呼吁人们改变物质主义的生活方式,坚持人与自然的和谐相处,努力过平静的简单生活。在他看来,人们应该远离尘嚣,回归乡村;丢掉欲望,轻装上阵;净化灵魂,诗意栖居。“简单,简单,简单啊!”也成了他留给现代人的重要精神财富。当今社会,人们不停地追求物质生活,日趋膨胀的物质对比和日益盛行的消费主义促使人们攀比心越来越重。极度的内心空虚、巨大的生活压力和无限的物质渴望导致了自然生态和人类心态的双重危机,人与自然、人与社会、人与人之间的关系依旧紧张,财富的日益增加似乎无法造就人们的幸福生活。因此,我们需要遵循巴勒斯等自然文学作家所倡导的简单生活观,摆脱物质上的枷锁,与大自然为伍,追求诗意的栖居,不断丰富我们的精神世界,为构建新时代人与自然生命共同体贡献我们的智慧与力量。

Different from the worldview of consumer culture,the outlook upon simple life requires people to resist the negative impact of consumerism on their lives and spare more time and energy to enrich their spiritual worlds.Simplifying material needs,reducing pressures on ecology and pursuing rich spiritual lives are the significant philosophies of nature writers.As a prestigious nature writer at the latter half of the 19th century,John Burroughs advocates and practices living simply,appeals to people for changing their material way of life,adhering to the harmonious coexistence between man and nature,and striving to live a quiet and simple life.He views that people should stay away from the hustle and bustle of the society,and return to the countryside,get rid of their material desires and move forward without burdens,and purify their souls and live poetically.“Simplicity,simplicity,simplicity!”has also become the important spiritual wealth left by him to modern people.In the current society,people are constantly pursuing material lives.The expanding material contrast and the increasingly popular consumerism urge people to keep up with the Joneses.Extreme inner emptiness,huge life pressures and unlimited material desires have brought about the double crisis of natural ecology and human mentality.The relationship between man and nature,man and society,and man and man is still tense.The increasing wealth seems unable to create a happy life for people.Thus,we should follow the outlook upon simple life advocated by such nature writers as Burroughs,shake off the material shackles,stay in company with nature,pursue a poetic dwelling,constantly enrich our spiritual worlds,and contribute our wisdom and power to the new era of building a community of life for man and nature.