3。2 Criticism of industrialization 文献综述

When Walden was firstly published in 1854, it did not receive much attention or high appraisal from either professional scholars or ordinary readers, because during the mid-19th century, the American value of pursuing earthly wealth became extremely strong。 During that historical period, the USA had defeated the Independence War over Great Britain, and was rapidly expanding into an industrial power。 The historical events like the Industrial Revolution, the construction of nationwide railway system, and the California Gold Rush shifted American people’s attention to the protection of natural environment。

“Since the 19th century, the industrial production and the science and technology have experienced rapid development。 However, the development of industry and science and technology are not all manifested as a correct understanding of nature, rational use of nature, and the moderate increase of material wealth; in many cases they performed as the interference with the natural process, contrary to the laws of nature, destruction of natural beauty and ecological balance, overdraft and even depletion of natural resources(Wang Euro-American 75)。” Industrial pollution and destruction deteriorated human’s survival environment。

Thoreau has been regarded as one of the pioneers who criticized the emerging industrial technological revolution in the United States。 In the early stages of the industrial development, when the whole society was in the crazy pursuit of progress and development, he saw the negative effects of the industrial civilization - the destruction of natural ecosystems and the destruction of spiritual freedom。 With the catastrophic consequences of the rapid development of industrial civilization becoming more obvious, Thoreau’s ideas and views were increasingly being respected, and more and more people were opposed to the excessive development of industrial civilization against the devastating development and use of science and technology in nature。

Thoreau opposed the development of industrial civilization because he thought that the development of industry and commerce did not improve human life, but hindered the real taste of human life。 For commercial telegraphy, the so-called symbol of social progress and the development of civilization, Thoreau thought that human beings should not blindly make the so-called invention and innovation, but should seriously consider whether they were useful to the true happiness and liberation of mankind。