Environmental Culture: The Ecological Crisis of Reason (Environmental Philosophies)

In this much-needed account of what has gone wrong in our thinking about the environment, Val Plumwood digs at the roots of environmental degradation. She argues that we need to see nature as an end itself, rather than an instrument to get what we want. Using a range of examples, Plumwood presents a radically new picture of how our culture must change to accommodate nature. Environmental Culture: The Ecological Crisis Of Reason Is A Much Needed Account Of What Has Gone Wrong In Our Relationship With The Environment. Written By One Of Our Leading Environmental Thinkers, It Is A Compelling Exploration Of The Contemporary Ecological Crisis, Its Origins, And The Cultural Illusions That Lie Behind It. Val Plumwood Argues That Historically-traceable Distortions Of Reason And Culture Have Resulted In Dangerous Forms Of Ecological Denial. They Have Had A Widespread Effect In Areas As Diverse As Economics, Politics, Science, Ethics, And Spirituality, And Appear In The Currently Dominant Form Of Globalisation. Environmental Culture: The Ecological Crisis Of Reason Presents A Radically New Picture Of How Our Culture Must Change In Order To Develop An Ecologically Rational Society. Drawing On A Range Of Ideas From Feminism, Democracy, Globalisation And Post-colonial Thought, It Is Essential Reading For Anyone Interested In The Environment And Our Place In It.--book Jacket. The Ecological Crisis Of Reason -- Rationalism And The Ambiguity Of Science -- The Politics Of Ecological Rationality -- Inequality And Ecological Rationality -- The Blindspots Of Centrism And Human Self-enclosure -- Philosophy, Prudence And Anthropocentrism -- The Ethics Of Commodification -- Towards A Dialogical Interspecies Ethics -- Unity, Solidarity And Deep Ecology -- Towards A Materialist Spirituality Of Place. Val Plumwood. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [269]-278) And Index. "Environmental Culture: the ecological crisis of reason is a much needed account of what has gone wrong in our relationship with the environment. Written by one of our leading environmental thinkers, it is a compelling exploration of the contemporary ecological crisis, its origins, and the cultural illusions that lie behind it. Val Plumwood argues that historically-traceable distortions of reason and culture have resulted in dangerous forms of ecological denial. They have had a widespread effect in areas as diverse as economics, politics, science, ethics, and spirituality, and appear in the currently dominant form of globalisation. Cutting through the 'prudence versus ethic' debate that has stunted environmental philosophy, Plumwood analyses our ethical and spiritual failures as closely linked to our perpetual and prudential failures to situate ourselves as ecological beings. She argues that in the process, we gain a false idea of our own character and location, including an illusory sense of independence from nature, making us insensitive to ecological limits, dependencies and interconnections. Environmental Culture: the ecological crisis of reason presents a radically new picture of how our culture must change in order to develop an ecologically rational society. Drawing on a range of ideas from feminism, democracy, globalisation and post-colonial thought, it is essential reading for anyone interested in the environment and our place in it." -- Provided by publisher Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Introduction......Page 10 1 The ecological crisis of reason......Page 22 2 Rationalism and the ambiguity of science......Page 47 3 The politics of ecological rationality......Page 71 4 Inequality and ecological rationality......Page 90 5 The blindspots of centrism and human self-enclosure......Page 106 6 Philosophy, prudence and anthropocentrism......Page 132 7 The ethics of commodification......Page 152 8 Towards a dialogical interspecies ethics......Page 176 9 Unity, solidarity and deep ecology......Page 205 10 Towards a materialist spirituality of place......Page 227 Conclusion......Page 245 Notes......Page 250 Bibliography......Page 278 Index......Page 288 Humanities Book Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Introduction 10 1 The ecological crisis of reason 22 2 Rationalism and the ambiguity of science 47 3 The politics of ecological rationality 71 4 Inequality and ecological rationality 90 5 The blindspots of centrism and human self-enclosure 106 6 Philosophy, prudence and anthropocentrism 132 7 The ethics of commodification 152 8 Towards a dialogical interspecies ethics 176 9 Unity, solidarity and deep ecology 205 10 Towards a materialist spirituality of place 227 Conclusion 245 Notes 250 Bibliography 278 Index 288 I lived for a while in the 1990s in a small cabin along the Bass Strait coast of Tasmania.