| Description |
xvi, 407 pages ; 24 cm |
| Contents |
Machine derived contents note: Contents -- @tocch:Preface -- Acknowledgments -- 1. Introduction: The Basic Problem and Possible Solutions -- @tocpt:A. Hopes for an "Ecological Solution" -- @tocs:I. Ecology as the Epitome of Controlling Nature? -- @tocch:2. Technical Optimism -- 3. Supposed and Temporary Limits -- 4. Fundamental Limits of Ecology -- @tocsh:a. Complexity -- b. Nonlinearity -- c. Boundaries -- d. Disturbance and Measurement Distortion -- e. Uniqueness and Generalization -- f. Quality and Quantity -- @tocch:5. Limits Set by Epistemology and Theory of Science -- 6. Alternative Science? -- 7. Science and Worldviews -- @tocs:II. The Science of Ecology as a Normative Authority? -- @tocch:8. The Naturalistic Fallacy -- 9. Consequences of Naturalism -- @tocsh:a. "Ascertaining" Environmental Standards? -- b. "Ascertaining" What Should be Protected? -- @tocch:10. What Do we Mean by "Ecological?" -- 11. A Critique of Guiding Principles of Ecology -- @tocsh:a. Ecological Equilibrium -- b. Ecological Stability -- c. Species Diversity -- d. Closed Cycles -- @tocch:12. Ecological Health? -- 13. Ecologism -- @tocs:III. What Ecology Has to Offer -- @tocch:14. The Normativistic Fallacy -- 15. "Ecological Thinking" -- 16. Principles of a Change in Attitude -- 17. Questions for Ethics Posed by Ecology -- @tocpt:B. The Debate about an Ethical Solution -- @tocch:18. A Typology of Positions in Environmental Ethics -- 19. The Scope of the Discussion -- @tocs:I. A Pragmatic Approach: Is Anthropocentrism Sufficient? -- @tocch:20. Species Protection as an Intuitive Postulate -- 21. Anthropocentric Justification for Species Protection -- 22. The Limits-of-Utility Argumentation -- @tocsh:a. Economic Arguments -- b. Ecological Arguments -- c. Aesthetic Arguments -- @tocch:23. Psychological and Sociopsychological Aspects -- @tocsh:a. How Attitudes toward Nature Are Formed -- b. Motivational Aspects -- c. Intuitions of People in Nature Conservancy -- @tocch:24. Expanding the Scope of Moral Responsibility -- @tocsh:a. Moving Away from Anthropocentrism -- b. Considering Nonhuman Interests -- c. Ethics beyond Interests -- @tocs:II. A Theoretical Approach: Can Holism Be Justified? -- @tocch:25. Fundamental Objections to Extension -- @tocsh:a. Opportunistic Theory Choice? -- b. Is Anthropocentrism Inescapable? -- c. Refined Anthropocentrism? -- @tocch:26. Regarding the Nature, Claims and Prerequisites of Justification -- 27. From an Anthropocentric Worldview to a Holistic One -- 28. Justification for Holistic Ethics -- @tocsh:a. The Universal Nature of the Moral Standpoint -- b. Limits to Justification -- @tocch:29. Objections from Other Ethical Schools of Thought -- @tocsh:a. Lack of Reciprocity? -- b. Lack of Perspective on the Part of the Moral Object? -- c. Lack of Goal-Directedness? -- @tocch:30. Species Protection as a Paradigm of Pluralistic Holism -- 31. Balancing Interests and Dealing with Conflicting Duties -- 32. Conclusions and Prospects -- 33. Notes -- 34. Bibliography -- 35. Person Index -- 36. Subject Index |
| Summary |
"In The Death of Our Planet's Species, Martin Gorke argues that such a utilitarian perspective is not only shortsighted but morally bankrupt. Holding doctoral degrees in both ecology and philosophy, Gorke is uniquely qualified to examine the extinction crisis from both scientific and philosophical perspectives. He offers a wide-ranging review of literature on the subject, drawing together those two lines of reasoning that are almost always pursued separately." |
|
"After critical examination of the current state of relevant ecological knowledge, Gorke presents a carefully considered case for attributing intrinsic value to all of nature, including all species. At the heart of his argument is an analysis of the concept of morality. According to this analysis, the universal character of morality does not permit us to establish limits of moral considerability. More precisely, every act of exclusion from the moral community is an arbitrary act and is not compatible with a moral point of view."--BOOK JACKET |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 358-393) and index |
| Subject |
Ecology -- Philosophy.
|
| Author |
ebrary, Inc.
|
| LC no. |
2003006059 |
| ISBN |
1559639571 hardcover : cover alkaline paper |
|
