Abstract:

​​In the development of ecocriticism， pollution studies have manifested three distinct dimensions： the malady of civilization， the focus of political struggles and the coexistence of human beings and non-human beings， reflecting shifts in research priorities and theoretical approaches. In its incipient phase， pollution is understood as the result of human oppression and exploitation of nature， and a product of modern civilization under the guidance of anthropocentric ideology. Pollution governance is manifested as a reflection on modernity and human civilization. In the second stage， pollution is closely linked to the movement of the colonized， including vulnerable groups in underdeveloped countries and regions， in their struggle for political rights， with a focus on the division of responsibilities in the transfer of pollution. Both research approaches view pollution as an intra-human issue， differentiated primarily by their respective degrees of complexity. The third phase conceptualizes pollutants as agentic actors， requiring pollution mitigation strategies to address both their agential properties and potential ecological consequences for non-human life， thereby advancing an eco-political and environmental ethical framework grounded in care for non-human others.​

Key words: pollution, ecocriticism, malady of civilization, political struggle, agent