Fonds AR044 - Alan Drengson fonds

Alan Rodney Drengson was born in Wahpeton, North Dakota on November 9, 1934. As a descendent of farmers, and having grown up during the dust bowl years in the prairies, he became aware of environmental issues early on in his life. After moving to the West Coast in the 1940s and living among the mountains and forests, his appreciation for the natural world grew into a passion for environmental advocacy. In college, he became involved with various groups such as the Sierra Club, Wilderness Society, and Friends of the Earth.

Drengson received a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Washington in 1958, and returned there to complete his M.A. in 1960. He received his doctorate from the University of Oregon in 1971. He joined the Philosophy Department at the University of Victoria in 1968. While at UVic, he championed environmentalism, and became one of the founders of the Environmental Studies program. Drengson was also the founder of the Ecoforestry Institute. He started two journals, The Trumpeter: Journal of Ecosophy in 1983, and later The Ecoforestry Journal. After his retirement in 1995, he remained active as an Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and an Adjunct Professor in Environmental Studies at UVic.

Drengson had broad interests, but focused principally on environmental philosophy throughout his career. He was inspired by the Norwegian Philosopher, Arne Naess, and became an avid supporter of his philosophy of Deep Ecology. Additional areas of interest included Eastern philosophy, comparative religion, and interdisciplinary technology studies. He also had a deep appreciation for the arts. He played guitar, wrote poetry and fiction, and was a stained-glass artisan. He also regularly practiced the martial art, Aikido.

Alan Drengson died on March 6, 2022.