Synopses & Reviews
Recognizing that most students who take an environmental philosophy class have had little (if any) previous exposure to philosophy, this new text/reader both provides material for classroom discussion and prepares students to talk about it. Kaufman offers exceptionally clear explanations of environmental philosophy topics, lively and informative essays, and essential descriptions of the elements of philosophy, moral theories, and argument recognition and analysis.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Moral Philosophy and the Natural WorldMoral DeliberationModern Times: Behold the BananaFrom Bananas to Moral PhilosophyBut Isn't Ethics Relative?Moral Reasons and the Moral Point of ViewMoral Philosophy and the Environment: Standard Moral TheoriesUtilitarianismKantianismNatural Law EthicsVirtue EthicsWhat to Make of the Moral Theories?ReferencesChapter 2 Moral ReasoningRational Inquiry and the Concept of an ArgumentDeductive and Inductive ArgumentsMoral ArgumentsRecognizing ArgumentsExercisesArgument Recognition in PassagesFallaciesExercisesChapter 3 The Human-Nature RelationModern Times: Endangered Species ActOur Relation to the Natural WorldThe ReadingsLynn White, Jr., "The Historical Roots of Our Environmental Crisis"Walter H. O'Briant, "Man, Nature, and the History of Philosophy"John Passmore, "Attitudes to Nature"J. Baird Callicott, "Traditional American Indian and Western European Attitudes Toward Nature: An Overview"Holmes Rolston, "Duties to Endangered Species"You Decide!1. Campsite Litter2. Urban Sprawl3. Exotic Species–Zebra Mussels4. NaturallyChapter 4 An Environmental Ethic?Modern Times: Vital Fluids–GasolineAn Ethic for the Environment Versus an Environmental EthicIntrinsic Value in Nature?Implications of a Nonanthropocentric EthicThe ReadingsTom Regan, "The Nature and Possibility of Environmental Ethics"Robert Sylvan, "Is There a Need for a New, an Environmental Ethic?"Mary Midgley, "Duties Concerning Islands"Christopher D. Stone, "Should Trees Have Standing?"John Rodman, "The Liberation of Nature?"Janna Thompson, "Refutation of Environmental Ethics"You Decide!1. America the Beautiful2. Wood Wise3. GesturesChapter 5 The Moral Standing of AnimalsModern Times: Fowl Deeds–BroilersWhat Are Animals Like?Animal RightsVegetarianismThe ReadingsPeter Singer, "All Animals Are Equal"Tom Regan, "The Case for Animal Rights"Mary Anne Warren, "The Rights of the Non-Human World"Carl Cohen, "The Case for the Use of Animals in Biomedical Experimentation"James Rachels, "Created From Animals"You Decide!1. Save the Whalers2. Ivory and the Killing of Poachers3. "Those Damn Deer"Chapter 6 Biocentrism: The Extension of InterestsModern Times: Brave New World of BiotechnologyThe Scope of MoralitySentience and Moral StandingThe Machine ObjectionThe ReadingsPaul Taylor, "Ethics of Respect for Nature"Kenneth Goodpaster, "On Being Morally Considerable"Gary Varner, "Biocentric Individualism"Mark Bernstein, "Wellbeing"You Decide!1. Monarch Butterflies and BT Corn2. Life Force?Chapter 7 Ecocentric EthicsModern Times: The Concept of an EcosystemThe Moral Status of EcosystemsEthical Atomism Versus Ethical HolismThe Challenge of EcocentrismA Further Question for Ecocentric EthicsThe ReadingsAldo Leopold, "The Land Ethic"J. Baird Callicott, "Conceptual Foundations of the Land Ethic"Lawrence Johnson, from A Morally Deep WorldHarley Cahen, "Against the Moral Considerability of Ecosystems"Elliott Sober, "Philosophical Problems for Environmentalism"You Decide!1. Eco-Terrorism2. Industrial Ecology3. Goats versus EcosystemsChapter 8 A New Anthropocentrism?Modern Times: Heat Wave; Global Warming and the Future of HumanityEnlightened AnthropocentrismCharacter and the EnvironmentThe ReadingsStephen Jay Gould, "The Golden Rule-A Proper Scale for Our Environmental Crisis"Bryan G. Norton, "Environmental Ethics and Weak Anthropocentrism"Thomas E. Hill, Jr., "Ideals of Human Excellence and Preserving the Natural Environment"You Decide!1. Urban Ecology2. DDTChapter 9 Environmental PolicyModern Times: Your Government at Work–EPAPhilosophical Aspects of Environmental RegulationSome Problems With a Market-based Approach to Environmental RegulationCost-Benefit AnalysisThe ReadingsWilliam Baxter, "The Case for Optimal Pollution"Mark Sagoff, "At the Monument of General Meade, or On the Difference Between Beliefs and Benefits"You Decide!1. Arsenic and Drinking Water2. Snowmobiles in YellowstoneChapter 10 Broader Issues: Thoreau, Deep Ecology, Eco-FeminismModern Times: Ever More Pressing–Thoreau and Environmental ThoughtThe Death of NatureDeep EcologyEcofeminismCritical Reaction to EcofeminismThe ReadingsJerome Segal, from Graceful SimplicityArne Naess, "The Deep Ecological Movement: Some Philosophical Aspects"Karen J. Warren, "The Power and the Promise of Ecological Feminism"You Decide!1. Consumption and Collective Decisions2. Speciesism and Sexism?