Beyond the Land Ethic: More Essays in Environmental Philosophy (S U N Y Series in Philosophy and Biology)

A leading theorist addresses a wide spectrum of topics central to the field of environmental philosophy.A sequel to Callicott's pioneering work, In Defense of the Land Ethic, Beyond the Land Ethic engages a wide spectrum of topics central to the field, including the troubled relationship of environmental philosophy to current mainstream academic philosophy; the relationship of recent developments in evolutionary and ecological sciences to the Leopold land ethic long championed by the author; the perennial debates in environmental ethics about the ontological status of intrinsic value and the necessity of moral pluralism; the metaphysical implications of ecology and the New Physics as manifest in agriculture, medicine, and industrial technology; and the philosophical dimensions of conservation biology and “clinical ecology.”J. Baird Callicott is Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies at the University of North Texas and is the current President of the International Society for Environmental Ethics. He is the author of many books, including In Defense of the Land Ethic, also published by SUNY Press. A leading theorist addresses a wide spectrum of topics central to the field of environmental philosophy. A sequel to Callicott's pioneering work, In Defense of the Land Ethic , Beyond the Land Ethic engages a wide spectrum of topics central to the field, including the troubled relationship of environmental philosophy to current mainstream academic philosophy; the relationship of recent developments in evolutionary and ecological sciences to the Leopold land ethic long championed by the author; the perennial debates in environmental ethics about the ontological status of intrinsic value and the necessity of moral pluralism; the metaphysical implications of ecology and the New Physics as manifest in agriculture, medicine, and industrial technology; and the philosophical dimensions of conservation biology and "clinical ecology." "Callicott is among the top two or three environmental philosophers in the entire world. This collection of essays reminds me of WHY this is the case. His style is very engaging and interesting. He is by no means a dry author, but instead uses a number of rhetorical strategies to keep his readers awake and involved. I was really taken with his excellent essay on John Muir, for example. What a delight to follow the ins and outs of this intriguing--and convincing--argument." -- Michael E. Zimmerman, Tulane University "Callicott's style is vivid, frank, often fun to read, and always clear. Each essay offers provocative ideas. The Introduction presents a straightforward and exciting assessment of the long-term intellectual and cultural significance of the field. Beyond the Land Ethic will be indispensable to those interested in environmental philosophy." -- Susan J. Armstrong, Humboldt State University "A pleasure to read, this book is significant because it discusses issues that are central to environmental philosophy. Readers will be served well to have Callicott's current thinking available to them in a single book. I expect it to be the standard work used to refer to Callicott's more recent thought." -- Peter Wenz, author of Environmental Justice A Sequel To Callicott's Pioneering Work, In Defense Of The Land Ethic, Beyond The Land Ethic Engages A Wide Spectrum Of Topics Central To The Field, Including The Troubled Relationship Of Environmental Philosophy To Current Mainstream Academic Philosophy; The Relationship Of Recent Developments In Evolutionary And Ecological Sciences To The Leopold Land Ethic Long Championed By The Author; The Perennial Debates In Environmental Ethics About The Ontological Status Of Intrinsic Value And The Necessity Of Moral Pluralism; The Metaphysical Implications Of Ecology And The New Physics As Manifest In Agriculture, Medicine, And Industrial Technology; And The Philosophical Dimensions Of Conservation Biology And Clinical Ecology.--jacket. Compass Points In Environmental Philosophy -- Environmental Philosophy Is Environmental Activism : The Most Radical And Effective Kind -- How Environmental Ethical Theory May Be Put Into Practice -- Holistic Environment Ethics And The Problem Of Ecofascism -- Just The Facts, Ma'am -- Can A Theory Of Moral Sentiments Support A Genuinely Normative Environmental Ethic? -- Do Deconstructive Ecology And Sociobiology Undermine The Leopold Land Ethic? -- Case Against Moral Pluralism -- Moral Monism In Environmental Ethics Defended -- Genesis And John Muir -- Rolston On Intrinsic Value : A Deconstruction -- Intrinsic Value In Nature : A Metaethical Analysis -- Metaphysical Transition In Farming : From The Newtonian-mechanical To The Eltonian-ecological -- Environmental Wellness -- After The Environmental Paradigm, What? -- Whither Conservation Ethics? -- Aldo Leopold's Concept Of Ecosystem Health -- Value Of Ecosystem Health -- Ecological Sustainability As A Conservation Concept. J. Baird Callicott. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 381-400) And Index.