Environmental Philosophy: An Introduction

by Simon James

Climate change, habitat loss, rising extinction rates - such problems call for more than just new policies and practices. They raise fundamental questions about the world and our place in it. What, for instance, is the natural world? Do we humans belong to it? Which parts of it are we morally obliged to protect?

Drawing on an exceptionally wide range of sources, from virtue ethics to Buddhism, leading environmental philosopher Simon P. James sets out to answer these vitally important questions.

The book begins with a discussion of animal minds, before moving on to explore our moral relations with non-human organisms, ecosystems and the earth as a whole. James then considers environmental aesthetics, humanity's place in the natural world and the question of what it means to be wild. In the concluding chapter, he applies his findings to the topic of global climate change, building a strong moral case for urgent action.

This accessible, entertainingly written book will be essential reading for students of the environment across the humanities and social sciences. It will, moreover, be an ideal guide for anyone keen to deepen their understanding of environmental issues.

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 27, 2015

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Reviews

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Admittedly, the book is an introduction and, as such, seems to do a fair job of presenting a wide variety of themes related to environmental philosophy. However, whenever the author criticises others' arguments or present their own thoughts on a particular matter, the arguments are either shallow or based on some type of strawman fallacy. For instance, the author's criticism is typically based on a very narrow interpretation of the theory in question, making the reader question the validity of the presentation of the topic to begin with. This is particularly true in the book's shorter chapters. But the book still manages to invoke philosophical contemplation of crucial matters, such as the meaning of 'nature', the apparent paradox of human-led management of nature conservation, and the morality around meat consumption.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good introduction. I'd touched on some of the things that came up before, but a lot of the stuff in here was fairly new to me, and the issues and ideas surrounding them were presented clearly. Left me with a lot to think about, and an interest in the area.