In Nature's Interests?: Interests, Animal Rights, and Environmental Ethics / Edition 1

by Gary E. Varner

Overview

This book offers a powerful response to what Varner calls the "two dogmas of environmental ethics"—the assumptions that animal rights philosophies and anthropocentric views are each antithetical to sound environmental policy. Allowing that every living organism has interests which ought, other things being equal, to be protected, Varner contends that some interests take priority over others. He defends both a sentientist principle giving priority to the lives of organisms with conscious desires and an anthropocentric principle giving priority to certain very inclusive interests which only humans have. He then shows that these principles not only comport with but provide significant support for environmental goals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195108651
Publisher:	Oxford University Press, USA
Publication date:	02/28/2002
Series:	Environmental Ethics and Science Policy Series
Pages:	166
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.80(d)
Lexile:	1530L (what's this?)

About the Author

Texas A & M University

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION Interests, Holism, and Environmental Ethics		3	(7)
ONE A Critique of Environmental Holism		10	(16)
TWO Localizing Desire		26	(29)
THREE Biological Interests Questioning the Mental State Theory of Welfare		55	(22)
FOUR The Principle of Inclusiveness Establishing Priorities among Interests		77	(21)
FIVE Can Animal Rights Activists Be Environmentalists?		98	(23)
SIX Justifying the Environmentalist Agenda		121	(21)
CONCLUSION Two Dogmas of Environmental Ethics		142	(3)
References		145	(6)
Index		151

Editorial Reviews

"This is a gritty and challenging text: it marks out a distinctive philosophical position that merits serious attention by environmentalists and animal rights supporters alike."—Animal Welfare

"In Nature's Interests? provides a valuable addition to the literature on moral considerability. Varner is a must-read for any serious environmental philosopher, and this book would be a welcome addition to any graduate seminar in the field. At the same time, however, the book is accessible to nonacademics with a serious interest in the subject since Varner's creative examples...and clear writing provide an excellent complement to his scholarship."—Ethics and the Environment

"All libraries supporting curricula in environmental ethics should own it....Varner knows his field, including the relevant literature, and argues using logic and the tools of philosophers. He examines opposing views fairly. He also knows his biology well. Well written and mercifully short."—Choice

"The book is a pleasure to read. The author is unduly influenced neither by radical nor conservative environmentalist camps. He has a mind of his own."—Environmental Ethics

"This is a brave and ambitious book. It is densely argued and beautifully written."—The Philosophical Review

From the Publisher