A Criticism of Anthropocentrism in An Island to Oneself by Tom Neale

Tom Neale’s autobiography An Island to Oneself (1966) reflects a deeply human-centred perspective that places mankind at the top of a natural hierarchy, where the environment and animals are valued only in relation to human needs. Neale’s attempt to create a liveable space on the remote island of Suwarrow demonstrates a mindset that seeks to control, reshape, and dominate the natural world. His efforts to clear the land, build a garden, fence off areas, tame animals, and eliminate species he deems threatening – such as pigs and crabs – reveal an attitude of ownership and superiority over nature. Nature and non-human beings are not treated as a valuable partner in his experience but as something to be subdued and reordered for personal benefit. The text reveals how this way of thinking, which treats the environment as a tool for human use, leads to the disruption of ecological balance. Neale’s relationship with the island mirrors a broader theoretical and philosophical context, where nature is often reduced to a resource to be managed, used, or overcome. Rather than offering a harmonious coexistence, the narrative underscores the consequences of placing human desires above the needs of the natural world, exposing the limitations and dangers of an anthropocentric worldview.