Abstrakt:
Within the scope of this presentation I would like to present two perspectives of the outlook and analysis of a relation between man and nature: the philosophical and ecophilosophical one. I want to present differences and similarities between them, concerning both the man’s place in nature and our attitude toward nature. Within the sphere of European culture the man–nature relation has gained various interpretations. In the reflective horizon of different eras both the paradigms of an instrumental attitude towards nature (anthropocentric paradigm) as well as those of noninstrumental approaches are supported. The latter constitute the philosophical origins of pro-ecological thinking, developed further by eco-philosophy, which takes effort to build up both, the theory and practical counter-measures aimed at overcoming the ecological crisis.