Man's Responsibility for Nature: Ecological Problems and Western Traditions

by John Arthur Passmore

Book by Passmore, John Arthur

213 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Nick Mather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Passmore's book is one of the early works of environmental ethics. It has not held up well in the nearly forty years since its initial publication in 1974. Passmore is very anthropocentric and is most definitely writing in the modern philosophical tradition. In large part he is arguing against some of the other early environmental writers like Barry Commoner and Theodore Roszak, though I believe he unfairly characterizes them and other early environmentalists as little more than nature mystics. He argues against extending rights to animals and that religion has no place in the solutions to our environmental problems. He even states that what is required is "the total rejection of the concept of the sacred." I do agree with him that any solution to our environmental problems (and he only examines four - Pollution, Conservation, Preservation and Over Population)must be a natural extension of existing traditions, creating a new religion for example is not going to be all that helpful. At the time of its publication I imagine Passmore's book was seen as a moderate and rational voice in regards to environmental ethics, but now it just seems hopelessly dated and patriarchal.