Respect for Nature: A Theory of Environmental Ethics - 25th Anniversary Edition

(Paperback, 25th Anniversary Edition)

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Description

What rational justification is there for conceiving of all living things as possessing inherent worth In Respect for Nature, Paul Taylor draws on biology, moral philosophy, and environmental science to defend a biocentric environmental ethic in which all life has value. Without making claims for the moral rights of plants and animals, he offers a reasoned alternative to the prevailing anthropocentric view--that the natural environment and its wildlife are valued only as objects for human use or enjoyment. Respect for Nature provides both a full account of the biological conditions for life--human or otherwise--and a comprehensive view of the complex relationship between human beings and the whole of nature. This classic book remains a valuable resource for philosophers, biologists, and environmentalists alike--along with all those who care about the future of life on Earth. A new foreword by Dale Jamieson looks at how the original 1986 edition of Respect for Nature has shaped the study of environmental ethics, and shows why the work remains relevant to debates today.

Reviews

From the previous edition: "Taylor's environmental ethic is a substantial and significant one which, among other things, requires that there be harmony between human civilisation and living nature. -- Australasian Journal of Philosophy From the previous edition: "This is a useful book that raises important questions. -- Ethics

Author Bio

Paul W. Taylor is professor emeritus of philosophy at Brooklyn College, City University of New York.