The Noteworthiness of Leonardo Boff's Integral Ecology for Contemporary Ethical Guidance

Abstract

This article examines the ethical significance of Leonardo Boff’s ecocriticism for guiding contemporary thought and practice in an age of ecological and social crisis. Emerging from his liberation theology, Boff’s ecological vision insists on the profound interconnection between humanity, the Earth, and the sacred. His concept of “integral ecology” highlights the inseparability of environmental sustainability and social justice, arguing that ecological destruction and human oppression stem from the same anthropocentric and exploitative systems. Against such paradigms, Boff advances an ethic of care, solidarity, and responsibility that extends moral concern to both the poor and the planet. Through qualitative method, this paper accentuates that Boff’s ecocriticism is thus doubly significant: as critique, it unmasks the unsustainable logic of consumerism, profit-driven economies, and technological domination; as constructive proposal, it offers a spiritually grounded, holistic ethics that nurtures compassion, cooperation, and reverence for life. By reframing ecological responsibility as inseparable from human dignity and justice, Boff provides a distinctive voice in global discussions of ecological ethics. This article argues that his perspective remains especially noteworthy today, offering a comprehensive and transformative framework capable of orienting societies toward more just, sustainable, and ethically grounded futures.