Understanding Environmental Philosophy

Environmental philosophy is one of the exciting new fields of philosophy to emerge in the last forty years. &quote;Understanding Environmental Philosophy&quote; presents a comprehensive, critical analysis of contemporary philosophical approaches to current ecological concerns. Key ideas are explained, placed in their broader cultural, religious, historical, political and philosophical context, and their environmental policy implications are outlined. Central ideas and concepts about environmental value, individual wellbeing, ecological holism and the metaphysics of nature set the stage for a discussion of how to establish moral rules and priorities, and whether it is possible to transcend human-centred views of the world. The reader is also helped with an annotated guide to further reading, questions for discussion and revision as well as boxed studies highlighting key concepts and theoretical material. A clear and accessible introduction to this most dynamic of subjects, &quote;Understanding Environmental Philosophy&quote; will be invaluable for a wide range of readers.

Autorentext

Andrew Brennan, Y.S. Lo

Inhalt

Acknowledgments; Chapter 1 Introduction: the place of environmental philosophy and its basic concepts; Chapter 2 Future generations: what consideration do we owe them?; Chapter 3 Animals: are they as morally valuable as human beings?; Chapter 4 Living things: ethics for the non-human world; Chapter 5 Community: how big is our moral world?; Chapter 6 Natural things: the puzzle of what "natural" means, and whether humans belong to nature; Chapter 7 Foundations: can there be a secular basis for the ideas of human dignity and intrinsic value in nature?; Chapter 8 Origins: political, religious and cultural diagnoses of environmental problems; Chapter 9 Beyond individual responsibility: governance and the affluenzic society; Questions for discussion and revision; Chapter fut Further reading;