Ethics and the Environment: An Introduction

by Dale Jamieson

Overview

What is the environment, and how does it figure in an ethical life? This book is an introduction to the philosophical issues involved in this important question, focussing primarily on ethics but also encompassing questions in aesthetics and political philosophy. Topics discussed include the environment as an ethical question, human morality, meta-ethics, normative ethics, humans and other animals, the value of nature, and nature's future. The discussion is accessible and richly illustrated with examples. The book will be valuable for students taking courses in environmental philosophy, and also for a wider audience in courses in ethics, practical ethics, and environmental studies. It will also appeal to general readers who want a reliable and sophisticated introduction to the field.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521864213
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	01/24/2008
Series:	Cambridge Applied Ethics
Pages:	234
Product dimensions:	7.05(w) x 9.96(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Dale Jamieson is Director of Environmental Studies at New York University, where he is also Professor of Environmental Studies and Philosophy, and Affiliated Professor of Law.

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. The environment as an ethical question; 2. Human morality; 3. Meta-ethics; 4. Normative ethics; 5. Humans and other animals; 6. The value of nature; 7. Nature's future.

Editorial Reviews

"Jamieson offers a welcome new volume for those in search of accessible, sophisticated, and sustained discussions of the ethical perspectives that inform the discipline...Essential."
-K. Doran, Hamilton College, Choice

"The material covered in the chapters on ethics is essential to a proper understanding of ethics and the environment, and the chapter on animals is a clear and concise account of that very relevant topic. Add those elements to the illuminating discussion of the value of nature, and the result is a book that can be recommended with confidence to anyone interested in learning about ethics, the environment and the interaction between them."
-Peter Singer, Times Literary Supplement

"Jamieson has written a careful and compelling introductory text—as those familiar with his work would expect. He successfully navigates difficult waters for those writing textbooks...Jamieson has a knack for finding compelling examples to illustrate difficult points, and a strong ability to anticipate common student reactions to important claims and arguments. He also provides thoughtful responses to such reactions, encouraging students to think more deeply about the issues. These are no small achievements. Ethics and the Environment would serve as an excellent text for any lower-level environmental ethics course, and could well be used in many environmental studies and ethics classes, more broadly.
Environmental Ethics, Jason Kawall, Colgate University

From the Publisher