Abstract

The article discusses the value of environmental knowledge. The specificity of this knowledge is determined in comparison with natural science, social and technical knowledge. At the same time, the heterogeneity of ecological knowledge is noted. On the one hand, there is biological ecology. It is an entirely natural science discipline. But human ecology, social ecology and global ecology are sciences of a different order. They combine elements of natural science (this is knowledge about the real ecological situation as such), socio-humanitarian and even technical knowledge. The article analyzes, first of all, the knowledge generated by human ecology and social ecology. The problem of "science and values" is analyzed and the conclusion is made that there is no value-neutral scientific knowledge. With regard to ecological knowledge, a distinction is made between its absolute and relative value (we are talking about human ecology, social and global ecology). The absolute value of ecological knowledge is its value as such. In the current ecological situation, it is absolutely necessary, because without it it is impossible for humanity to cope with this situation. Therefore, it has the status of absolute value for humanity. As for concrete ecological knowledge every time, it, being relative every time, has a relative value.