Environmental Ethics Today

by Peter S. Wenz

Environmental Ethics Today is essential reading for anyone interested in the future of the environment, our species, and species diversity. This wide-ranging introduction to major issues and questions in environmental ethics employs an accessible, journalistic style--featuring current facts, real controversies, individual stories, and a vivid narrative--that engages readers and gives meaning to abstract philosophical concepts. Topics discussed include pollution permits for corporations, medical experimentation on animals, genetic engineering, economic globalization, biodiversity, and much more. Theories and methods such as utilitarianism, contractarianism, and hermeneutics are introduced as needed to help readers understand and attempt to resolve environmental conflicts. The book considers the views of many thinkers including Father Thomas Berry, Wendell Berry, J. Baird Callicott, Jane Goodall, Garrett Hardin, David Korten, Aldo Leopold, Arne Naess, Val Plumwood, Daniel Quinn,
Tom Regan, Holmes Rolston III, Vandana Shiva, Julian Simon, Peter Singer, and Karen Warren. An exceptional primary text for courses in environmental ethics and environmental values, Environmental Ethics Today is also excellent reading for general courses in moral problems, business ethics, environmental studies, and women's studies.

368 pages, Paperback

First published December 14, 2000

Reviews

[Katie Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the text for a Philosophy class I took in college. I just pulled it off the shelf today to re-read. I remember really liking it during the class. The author finds a way to challenge every mode of thinking about the environment. I found myself having to really question why I believed the things I did. I'm sure it did the same thing for others in the class. By examining many different philosophies regarding the natural environment, readers can see why certain philosophies work some of the time, and why they don't. It was an enlightening read!