HOW NATURE MATTERS presents an original theory of nature's value based on part—whole relations. James argues that when natural things have cultural value, they do not always have it as means to valuable ends. In many cases, they have value as parts of valuable wholes — as parts of traditions, for instance, or cultural identities. James develops his theory by investigating twelve real-world cases, ranging from the veneration of sacred trees to the hunting of dugongs. He also analyses some key policy-related debates and explores various fundamental issues in environmental philosophy, including the question of whether anything on earth qualifies as natural. This accessible, engagingly written book will be essential reading for all those who wish to understand the moral and metaphysical dimensions of environmental issues.
Simon P. James is Professor of Philosophy at Durham University. He has written a number of articles on environmental philosophy as well as several books, including Zen Buddhism and Environmental Ethics, The Presence of Nature, and Environmental Philosophy: An Introduction.
Title: How Nature Matters: Culture, Identity, and Environmental Value
Author: James, Simon P.
ISBN: 9780198871613
Binding:
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication Date: 2022-08-25
Number of Pages: 184
Weight: 0.3101 kg
This admirably well-written book makes a convincing case for moving beyond the instrumental vs intrinsic value contrast when assessing nature's contributions to human meaning * Professor Simon Hailwood, University of Liverpool *
An accessible, erudite, and enlightening articulation of nature's value to human beings, offering an attractive alternative to standard accounts * Professor Allen Thompson, Oregon State University *
This readable and absorbing book captures the intimacy and richness of relations between people and nature, and how nature's meanings shape human well-being * Professor Emily Brady, Texas A&M University *
Environmental philosopher Simon P. James's How Nature Matters tackles the much-discussed problem of how to define and assess nature's value for human beings beyond the material resources and benefits nature provides, from resources such as food and building materials to functions such as water filtration and crop pollination. * Ursula K.Heise, The Quarterly Review of Biology *
