Thinking Ecologically

Environmental Thought, Values and Policy

by Bruce Morito  

Thinking Ecologically has two aims. The first is to describe the metaphysical, epistemological and valuational directions taken toward the environment in the history of Western thought. The second is to develop an approach to environmental thought based on the idea of attunement. Attunement steers us toward thinking ecologically, in contrast to merely thinking about ecology. Appeal to some Eastern and Aboriginal approaches is made to develop the idea of attunement. As such, it challenges some basic (Western and philosophical) values and ethical assumptions about what it means to be part of ecological processes. With this theoretical background, the book then attempts to address some of the fundamental concepts presently grounding environmental policy–concepts such as sustainability, sustainable development and conservation. These examples of how thinking ecologically can be applied to a range of policy concerns highlight the tensions involved in understanding the relation between humans and their environment. Thinking ecologically, however, enables these tensions to be seen not merely as problematic, but as informative in becoming attuned; it attempts to address in policy the uncertainty that arises when these tensions are understood in their fullness.

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  • January 2002
  • ISBN: 9781552660928
  • 270 pages
  • $35.00
  • For sale worldwide

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About the book

Thinking Ecologically has two aims. The first is to describe the metaphysical, epistemological and valuational directions taken toward the environment in the history of Western thought. The second is to develop an approach to environmental thought based on the idea of attunement. Attunement steers us toward thinking ecologically, in contrast to merely thinking about ecology. Appeal to some Eastern and Aboriginal approaches is made to develop the idea of attunement. As such, it challenges some basic (Western and philosophical) values and ethical assumptions about what it means to be part of ecological processes. With this theoretical background, the book then attempts to address some of the fundamental concepts presently grounding environmental policy–concepts such as sustainability, sustainable development and conservation. These examples of how thinking ecologically can be applied to a range of policy concerns highlight the tensions involved in understanding the relation between humans and their environment. Thinking ecologically, however, enables these tensions to be seen not merely as problematic, but as informative in becoming attuned; it attempts to address in policy the uncertainty that arises when these tensions are understood in their fullness.

Climate & Ecology

Author

Bruce Morito

Bruce Morito is an Associate Professor of Philosophy in the Centre for Global and Social Analysis and has been working at Athabasca University since 1998. Bruce’s areas of specialization include environmental philosophy, environmental ethics, value theory, aboriginal rights, metaphysics, personal identity and philosophical psychology. He is currently involved with aboriginal rights issues, environmental policy and education, and is editor of The Trumpeter (an environmental journal dedicated to the pursuit of understanding and wisdom as it attempts to aid in the development of an ecosophy, or, wisdom born of ecological understanding and insight). Other interests of Bruce are history of philosophy, philosophy of religion, bio-medical ethics, and social and political issues.

Contents

  • Preface
  • Introduction
  • Animistic and Classical World Views
  • The Copernican Revolution, Mechanism and the Modern World View
  • The Challenge of Evolutionary and Ecological Theories
  • Values and World View
  • Ecology and Ethics
  • Ethics and Policy
  • Sustainable Development, Conservation and Sustainability
  • Bibliography
  • Index

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