Speaking of Forms of Life: The Language of Conservation (Fascinating Life Sciences)

Humans pose an unprecedented threat to life in all its great diversity of forms. The human-induced extinction rate has been compared to “mass extinctions” of the past. But this language masks the fact that the crisis is due to voluntary, and thus, avoidable choices and actions. “ Speaking of Forms of Life” shows that at the root of this crisis is the tragic inadequacy of the language predominantly used to represent and address what we are doing, including the language of “sustainable development,” “rights” for animals and the rest of nature, their “intrinsic value,” and conservation of species as “populations.” This talk alienates us from the other living things, from what they actually are, have and do, and it perpetuates the harm and loss. Campagna and Guevara compellingly argue, on rigorous but accessible grounds, that there is an alternative language to guide conservation, in confronting the radically urgent, ethical issues it faces. This is a language with which we are all familiar, mastered by naturalists, from Aristotle to Audubon. It articulates the primary value in life and the standard that must guide how human beings should live, as one form of life, among countless others. This book is a homecoming for those who practice conservation to, above all else, secure a creature’s ability to satisfy the necessities of its form of life. "This is an essential book for anyone who cares about conservation and is concerned about the frightening pace of extinctions. The great theme of the book is the importance of the language in which we think and talk about living beings. Daniel Guevara and Claudio Campagna make available for conservationists the ground-breaking work of Philippa Foot and Michael Thompson on natural goodness and on our thought about living beings. They show how it can be brought to bear on the threats that confront conservation and on disputes that may seem irresolvable. I recommend Speaking of Forms of Life as strongly as I can.” Cora Diamond, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor Emerita of Philosophy, Professor of Law, and University Professor, University of Virginia “Our current conservation language is shot through with economic platitudes that don’t explain anyone’s real motives for conserving biodiversity. Campagna and Guevara’s new book lays out a convincing alternative, grounding conservation goals in the objective goodness of life’s many ways of flourishing. Speaking of Forms of Life is inspiring, informative, well-grounded in the relevant philosophy and conservation literatures but never pedantic. Both activists and thinkers will find much of value in Speaking of Forms of Life .” Philip Cafaro, Professor of Philosophy, Colorado State University “ Speaking of Forms of Life” helps us confront the fact that language often obscures, rather than facilitates, our understanding of living things. Our language reflects past misperceptions, current ignorance, and our shockingly limited intellectual ability to comprehend where we are in space and time, and who we are with on this strange planet with its soap-bubble coating of life. The language in use has abetted, and accelerated the catastrophic course we daily continue to choose. “ Speaking of Forms of Life” shows us why and how this must change. It’s a crucial revelation that we must heed, because our species alone can consider changing course―and our species alone must do so. Carl Safina, MacArthur Fellow Carl Safina Research Chair for Nature and Humanity, Stony Brook University "Our biosphere is a miracle. Communicating the sense of awe and wonder that it instills in many of us is essential to shift from wanton destructionof our natural world for short term economic profit to health and prosperity for all creatures - including us humans. Speaking of Forms of Life is the first book that unveils how the way we speak to each other affects the way we value and care for our planet. An essential read for everyone who cares about the future of nature and humanity." Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer in Residence and Hubbard Medalist Preface for Conservationists Preface for Philosophers References Acknowledgments Introductory Note References Contents About the Authors 1: Uncovering Grammars Human-Caused Extinctions ``A Great Moral Wrong ́ ́ Pluralism and Commensurability `Administered Extinctions ́ Language as Intervention Conclusion Box 1.1: Language Box 1.2: Language-Games and Grammar Box 1.3 The Language of Representation and the Language of Evaluation References 2: About the Authors The Intuitive Stage Stage of Discovery The Foundational Stage The Stage of Initiating a New Language-Game References 3: The Error of Wuhan Environmental Origins of the Pandemic Return to a Familiar Language-Game Importance for Conservation On Virtues Associated with Redressing the Threat of Provoked Extinction 4: Provoking Extinctions The Passenger Pigeon The Will Comes into Play The First of Its Kind in the History of Extinction Box 4.1: The Predisposition to Provoke Extinction References 5: Limits of Language The Inexpressible The Great Silence Facing the Difficulties of Language and Reality References 6: Glossaries, Euphemisms, Metaphors, Analogies, and Catchy Words Creating Language Glossaries Euphemisms Metaphors Analogies Failures of Vigilance An Escape from Bewilderment Box 6.1: Overwhelming Concepts References 7: Introduction to the Language of Extinction The Word ``Extinction ́ ́ The Last Individual The Human Double Standard The Implications of Evaluative Judgment Based on the Language of Population Extinction of a Form of Life Reconversion of Meaning Implications for Human Natural Goodness Conclusions Box 7.1: Defect Box 7.2: Death and Killing References 8: Represent-Evaluate Logical Consistency Primary and Secondary Values Evaluating Interventions The Seeming Permissibility of Provoked Extinction Lies Implicitly in the Language of Representation References 9: Standards Primary and Secondary Goodness Conclusion Box 9.1: Non-transferable Human Standards References 10: The Unique Logic of Life The Logic of Natural Historical Judgments `Aristotelian Categoricals ́ A Unique Teleology The `Definitions ́ of Life Concluding Remarks Box 10.1 The Language of Aristotle, Darwin, and Other Naturalists Box 10.2 Convergence on the A Priori References 11: The Form-Bearer Unity A Figure of Life Relevance of the United, Dual-Aspect, Character of Form and Bearer References 12: From Natural Goodness to Moral Goodness A Moral Theory Based on Natural Goodness Foot on Natural Goodness as `Intrinsic ́ and `Autonomous ́ `Aristotelian Necessity ́ Box 12.1 Categoricals Box 12.2 Life Cycles Box 12.3 The Necessary and the Irrelevant References 13: The Value in Life Secondary Value in Life Intrinsic Value The Relationship Between Intrinsic Value and the Language of Life Forms Theories of Value Similar to Natural Goodness Conclusions References 14: The Value of Consciousness What Is It Like to Be a Bat? The Grammar of Consciousness Implications for Conservation Practice Projection of Human Standards Talking to the Animals Box 14.1: The Case of Happy References 15: Life Forms, Artifacts, and in Between The Language of Artifacts Humanoids Extraterrestrial Life The Special Case of Domesticated and Hybrid Life Forms Conclusions References 16: Pluralism Grammatical Cacophony Language and Cognition The Ideal of a Common Grammar References 17: Species and Forms of Life Species and Forms of Life in the Context of Conservation and Environmentalism Conservation of Species as Populations (as Opposed to Forms of Life) Conserving `Species ́ Does Not Ensure Conserving Life Forms References 18: Conservation Without Life Forms The Language of the Conservation of Spaces Conservation Ecology Box 18.1 Three Conservationisms Box 18.2 Intervention References 19: A Bridge from Natural Goodness to Morality Human Morality References 20: Natural Goodness Encompasses Moral Goodness How Would a Morality Based on Natural Goodness Make a Difference to Conservation Practice? Box 20.1 The Success of ``Save the Whales ́ ́ Box 20.2 The Demise of ``Save the Whales ́ ́ References 21: Agent, Action, and Modalities of Action Summary of Some Key Terms and Distinctions Modality of Satisfaction of Life Form Needs Human `Exceptionality ́ True Needs References 22: Rationality and the Good Practical Reason Reference 23: Practicing the Conservation of Life Forms The Stages of the Practice Precision in the Language: Thick and Thin An Invitation References 24: Contrasting Life Form Conservation with Alternatives The Negotiator Model Conservation Models Based on Individuals Population-Based Models Models Based on Intrinsic Value Aesthetic Models Concluding Remarks References 25: Leaving Things as They Were The Leopard Resistance to Change The Language of Life Forms and Science References 26: Objections and Misunderstandings No One Would Ever Want to Be an Elephant Seal Evolution Undermines the Theory of Natural Goodness Do We All Have to Become Jains Now? References Epilogue References Index