Honestly, I did try really hard to interpret the documentary, Grizzly Man, with an open mind. I found that really hard to do. Timothy Treadwell lived a confused, controversial, and lonely life. I was unable to see which ethical lens Treadwell would most likely identify with. His unique relationship with animals in combination with his deep hatred and resentment for the human population negates him from many of the traditional ethical theories we have learned about. Treadwell would not fit in with deep ecologists as they believe and support the untouched natural world. Through his research, it seemed as though he only found sanctity in the grizzly bears and foxes.
Although I may seem a bit critical of Treadwell’s life choices, I do think that he managed to do something very few humans ever can do. He managed to surrender all obligations to human civilization and live in conjunction with a species that met the needs that he had.
Do I agree with Treadwell’s lifestyle? No. Would it be one that I would ever choose? No. Ultimately, I believe that he caused more harm to the bears than help. He humanized the bears which is very dangerous. In the scene where the other filmmakers were throwing stones at the bear, he had an opportunity to step in and stand up for the bear but he didn’t. Yes, he exposed many hours of natural footage of the bears but in the long run if he really believed the bears needed protecting, he should have left them unexposed.
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