Recognizing the Autonomy of Nature - by Thomas Heyd (Hardcover)

About the Book

The contributors to this collection address what is meant by "nature" and in what sense it can be seen as autonomous. They then consider the conflicts that arise between the satisfaction of human needs and interests and respect for nature's autonomy. The essays in the book's final section turn to management and restoration practices, investigating whether they promote the autonomy of nature or represent further attempts to dominate the natural world.

Book Synopsis

How do the ways in which we think about and describe nature shape the use and protection of the environment? Do our seemingly well-intentioned efforts in environmental conservation reflect a respect for nature or our desire to control nature's wildness? The contributors to this collection address these and other questions as they explore the theoretical and practical implications of a crucial aspect of environmental philosophy and policy-the autonomy of nature. In focusing on the recognition and meaning of nature's autonomy and linking issues of metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and policy, the essays provide a variety of new perspectives on human relationships to nature.

The authors begin by exploring what is meant by "nature," in what sense it can be seen as autonomous, and what respect for the autonomy of nature might entail. They examine the conflicts that arise between the satisfaction of human needs (food, shelter, etc.) and the natural world. The contributors also consider whether the activities of human beings contribute to nature's autonomy. In their investigation of these issues, they not only draw on philosophy and ethics; they also discuss how the idea of nature's autonomy affects policy decisions regarding the protection of agricultural, rural, and beach areas.

The essays in the book's final section turn to management and restoration practices. The essays in this section pay close attention to how efforts at environmental protection alter or reinforce the traditional relationship between humans and nature. More specifically, the contributors examine whether management practices, as they are applied in nature conservation, actually promote the autonomy of nature, or whether they turn the environment into a "client" for policymakers.

Review Quotes

An excellent introduction to the topic... Highly recommended.-- "Choice"

I recommend the book to anyone interested in environmental philosophy or concerned with understanding environmental problems.--Steven Vogel "Human Ecology"

About the Author

Thomas Heyd teaches philosophy at the University of Victoria in British Columbia. He is the coeditor (with John Clegg) of Aesthetics and Rock Art.