Skeptical Environmentalism: The Limits of Philosophy and Science
224
Skeptical Environmentalism: The Limits of Philosophy and Science
224eBook
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Overview
In Skeptical Environmentalism, Robert Kirkman raises doubts about the
speculative tendencies elaborated in environmental ethics, deep ecology, social
ecology, postmodern ecology, ecofeminism, and environmental pragmatism. Drawing on
skeptical principles introduced by David Hume, Kirkman takes issue with key tenets
of speculative environmentalism, namely that the natural world is fundamentally
relational, that humans have a moral obligation to protect the order of nature, and
that understanding the relationship between nature and humankind holds the key to
solving the environmental crisis. Engaging the work of Kant, Hegel, Descartes,
Rousseau, and Heidegger, among others, Kirkman reveals the relational worldview as
an unreliable basis for knowledge and truth claims, and, more dangerously, as
harmful to the intellectual sources from which it takes inspiration. Exploring such
themes as the way knowledge about nature is formulated, what characterizes an
ecological worldview, how environmental worldviews become established, and how we
find our place in nature, Skeptical Environmentalism advocates a shift away from the
philosopher's privileged position as truth seeker toward a more practical thinking
that balances conflicts between values and worldviews.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780253109248 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Indiana University Press |
| Publication date: | 02/01/2002 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 224 |
| File size: | 245 KB |
About the Author
Robert Kirkman received his Ph.D. in philosophy from SUNY, Stony Brook.
He is currently Assistant Professor of Science and Technology at the Lyman Briggs
School at Michigan State University. His research interests encompass environmental
philosophy, the history and philosophy of science, the history of philosophy, and
suburban environments.
Table of Contents
Preliminary Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part 1.
Knowledge
1. The Nature of Nature
2. Organism and
Mechanism
Part 2. Obligation
3. A Place on Earth
4. The
Moral Compass
Part 3. Hope
5. Environmentalism without
Illusions
Notes
Bibliography
Index
What People are Saying About This
"In this small book, Kirkman (Michigan State Univ.) struggles to reconcile his philosophical skepticism with his environmental ideals. Unlike many environmental philosophy books, which are not easily accessible to lay people, this one is. It is engagingly written, and the philosophical arguments are laid out clearly and crisply. Kirkman addresses the basic question, Can philosophical understanding of the natural world contribute in a practical way to the public's discourse about environmental issues? He claims that it can and must. Part 1, Knowledge, consists of two chapters: The Nature of Nature and Organism and Mechanism. Part 2, Obligation, has two chapters as well: A Place on Earth and The Moral Compass. The final part 3, Hope, contains a single chapter, Environmentalism without Illusions. Kirkman's coverage of philosophies that bear on environmentalism is necessarily brief and to the point. The bibliography contains more than 170 pertinent citations, including references to recent and classical papers and books. A very useful primer about skeptical environmentalism. General readers; lower—division undergraduates through graduate students; two—year technical program students."
In this small book, Kirkman (Michigan State Univ.) struggles to reconcile his philosophical skepticism with his environmental ideals. Unlike many environmental philosophy books, which are not easily accessible to lay people, this one is. It is engagingly written, and the philosophical arguments are laid out clearly and crisply. Kirkman addresses the basic question, Can philosophical understanding of the natural world contribute in a practical way to the public's discourse about environmental issues? He claims that it can and must. Part 1, Knowledge, consists of two chapters: The Nature of Nature and Organism and Mechanism. Part 2, Obligation, has two chapters as well: A Place on Earth and The Moral Compass. The final part 3, Hope, contains a single chapter, Environmentalism without Illusions. Kirkman's coverage of philosophies that bear on environmentalism is necessarily brief and to the point. The bibliography contains more than 170 pertinent citations, including references to recent and classical papers and books. A very useful primer about skeptical environmentalism. General readers; lower—division undergraduates through graduate students; two—year technical program students.
In this small book, Kirkman (Michigan State Univ.) struggles to reconcile his philosophical skepticism with his environmental ideals. Unlike many environmental philosophy books, which are not easily accessible to lay people, this one is. It is engagingly written, and the philosophical arguments are laid out clearly and crisply. Kirkman addresses the basic question, Can philosophical understanding of the natural world contribute in a practical way to the public's discourse about environmental issues? He claims that it can and must. Part 1, Knowledge, consists of two chapters: The Nature of Nature and Organism and Mechanism. Part 2, Obligation, has two chapters as well: A Place on Earth and The Moral Compass. The final part 3, Hope, contains a single chapter, Environmentalism without Illusions. Kirkman's coverage of philosophies that bear on environmentalism is necessarily brief and to the point. The bibliography contains more than 170 pertinent citations, including references to recent and classical papers and books. A very useful primer about skeptical environmentalism. General readers; lower—division undergraduates through graduate students; two—year technical program students.