Environmental Culture (the Ecological Crisis Of Reason)

By (author) Plumwood, Val
Short description/annotation:
A much-needed account of what has gone wrong in our thinking about the environment. Val Plumwood argues that we need to see nature as an end itself, rather than an instrument to get what we want.
Description:
In this much-needed account of what has gone wrong in our thinking about the environment, Val Plumwood digs at the roots of environmental degradation. She argues that we need to see nature as an end itself, rather than an instrument to get what we want. Using a range of examples, Plumwood presents a radically new picture of how our culture must change to accommodate nature.
Table of contents:
Introduction 1. The Ecological Crisis of Reason 2. Rationalism and the Ambiguity of Science 3. The Politics of Ecological Rationality 4. Inequality and Ecological Rationality 5. Human-Centredness and its Blindspots 6. Philosophy, Prudence and Anthropocentrism 7. The Ethics of Commodification 8. Towards a Dialogical Interspecies Ethics 9. Unity, Solidarity and Deep Ecology 10. Towards a Spirituality of Place
Review quote:

''It will ... stand as a key, thoughtful work on the ecological crisis ... an excellent choice for a graduate seminar on environmental thought ... rich and provocative.'' - Environmental Politics

''This text is an important development of Plumwood''s earlier works underlining the dualistic separation of humanity from nature as a key factor in our collective lack of enviromental ethics ... a nuanced and convincing analysis.''

''... this is an excellent book, which I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone interested in environmental debate, political philosophy and feminist analysis.'' - Susan Board, Open University, UK