Recognizing the Autonomy of Nature

Erscheinungsjahr 2005
ISBN: 978-0-231-13606-8
Verlag: Columbia University Press

Buch, Englisch, 232 Seiten, Format (B × H): 159 mm x 233 mm, Gewicht: 474 g

How do the ways in which we think about and describe nature shape the use and protection of the environment? Do our seemingly well-intentioned efforts in environmental conservation reflect a respect for nature or our desire to control nature's wildness? The contributors to this collection address these and other questions as they explore the theoretical and practical implications of a crucial aspect of environmental philosophy and policy-the autonomy of nature. In focusing on the recognition and meaning of nature's autonomy and linking issues of metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and policy, the essays provide a variety of new perspectives on human relationships to nature.

The authors begin by exploring what is meant by "nature," in what sense it can be seen as autonomous, and what respect for the autonomy of nature might entail. They examine the conflicts that arise between the satisfaction of human needs (food, shelter, etc.) and the natural world. The contributors also consider whether the activities of human beings contribute to nature's autonomy. In their investigation of these issues, they not only draw on philosophy and ethics; they also discuss how the idea of nature's autonomy affects policy decisions regarding the protection of agricultural, rural, and beach areas.

The essays in the book's final section turn to management and restoration practices. The essays in this section pay close attention to how efforts at environmental protection alter or reinforce the traditional relationship between humans and nature. More specifically, the contributors examine whether management practices, as they are applied in nature conservation, actually promote the autonomy of nature, or whether they turn the environment into a "client" for policymakers.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Heyd, Thomas

Fachgebiete

• Geowissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften Umweltsoziologie, Umweltpsychologie, Umweltethik
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Naturphilosophie, Philosophie und Evolution
• Geowissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Angewandte Ethik & Soziale Verantwortung Umweltethik, Umweltphilosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Ethik, Moralphilosophie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface and Acknowledgments1. Introduction: Recognizing the Autonomy of Nature: Theory and Practice, by Thomas HeydPart I. Nature and Autonomy of Nature: Are They Real?2. Toward a Progressive Naturalism, by Val Plumwood3. Is Nature Autonomous?, by Keekok LeePart II. Autonomous Nature and Human Interests: Are They Compatible?4. The Liberation of Humanity and Nature, by Eric Katz5. Respecting Nature's Autonomy in Relationship with Humanity, by Ned Hettinger6. Autonomy and Agriculture, by William Throop and Beth VickersPart III. Management, Restoration, and the Autonomy of Nature: A Paradox?7. Homo Administrator: Managing a Needy Nature?, by Dean Bavington8. Purple Loosestrife and the "Bounding" of Nature in North American Wetlands, by John Sandlos9. Restoration, Autonomy, and Domination, by Andrew Light10. Ecological Restoration and the Renewal of Wildness and Freedom, by Mark Woods11. Conclusion: Autonomy, Restoration, and the Law of Nature, by William R. Jordan IIIList of ContributorsIndex

Über Autor(innen)

Thomas Heyd teaches philosophy at the University of Victoria in British Columbia. He is the coeditor (with John Clegg) of Aesthetics and Rock Art.