The Wild and the Wicked: On Nature and Human Nature (The MIT Press)

Many ethicists and political advocates believe that the argument for environmentalism is simple: demonstrate that nature is valuable and obligations to protect the environment will follow. This approach to environmentalism often appears as a kind of consequentialism. This book, though sympathetic with environmentalism, argues against this consequentialist approach. It takes as its initiating presupposition the opposite stance: that nature can at times be quite disvaluable. In assuming this stance, it aims to carve a sharp distinction between events and actions, fundamentally splitting open the idea that actions are taken for reasons. In turn, the book argues that these reasons must be justified – assessed and ratified by the scrutiny of a wide deliberative body – and that an approach to environmentalism that prioritizes the Right over the Good is the correct approach. Environmentalism, then, cannot be entirely about identifying good states of affairs, but also must partly be about whether actions are and/or could be justified. A brief foray into a moral thicket, exploring why we should protect nature despite tsunamis, malaria, bird flu, cancer, killer asteroids, and tofu. Most of us think that in order to be environmentalists, we have to love nature. Essentially, we should be tree huggersembracing majestic redwoods, mighty oaks, graceful birches, etc. We ought to eat granola, drive hybrids, cook tofu, and write our appointments in Sierra Club calendars. Nature's splendor, in other words, justifies our protection of it. But, asks Benjamin Hale in this provocative book, what about tsunamis, earthquakes, cancer, bird flu, killer asteroids? They are nature, too. For years, environmentalists have insisted that nature is fundamentally good. In The Wild and the Wicked , Benjamin Hale adopts the opposite positionthat much of the time nature can be badin order to show that even if nature is cruel, we still need to be environmentally conscientious. Hale argues that environmentalists needn't feel compelled to defend the value of nature, or even to adopt the attitudes of tree-hugging nature lovers. We can acknowledge nature's indifference and periodic hostility. Deftly weaving anecdote and philosophy, he shows that we don't need to love nature to be green. What really ought to be driving our environmentalism is our humanity, not nature's value. Hale argues that our unique burden as human beings is that we can act for reasons, good or bad. He claims that we should be environmentalists because environmentalism is right, because we humans have the capacity to be better than nature. As humans, we fail to live up to our moral potential if we act as brutally as nature. Hale argues that despite nature's indifference to the plight of humanity, humanity cannot be indifferent to the plight of nature. For Years, Environmentalists Have Insisted That Nature Is Fundamentally Good. In The Wild And The Wicked, Benjamin Hale Adopts The Opposite Position -- That Much Of The Time Nature Can Be Bad -- In Order To Show That Even If Nature Is Cruel, We Still Need To Be Environmentally Conscientious. Hale Argues That Environmentalists Needn't Feel Compelled To Defend The Value Of Nature, Or Even To Adopt The Attitudes Of Tree-hugging Nature Lovers. We Can Acknowledge Nature's Indifference And Periodic Hostility. Deftly Weaving Anecdote And Philosophy, He Shows That We Don't Need To Love Nature To Be Green. What Really Ought To Be Driving Our Environmentalism Is Our Humanity, Not Nature's Value. Return To The Paleocene -- The Precious Vase -- Rustling In The Bushes -- The Wild And The Wicked -- Control Freak -- Dr. Feelgood And Mr. Fix-it Go To The Picture Show -- The Voter's Conundrum -- The Axes Of Evildoers -- The Green's Gambit -- The Good Green Life -- Postscript: The Right Thing For The Right Reason. Benjamin Hale. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. OVER THE RIVER: REORDERING OUR REASONS -- 9 The Green's Gambit -- DON'T FEED THE BEARS -- HE WHO HAS THE GOLD MAKES THE RULES -- ICE BATH -- THE RULES OF THE ROAD -- THE SENSITIVITY OF CAR ALARMS -- TRADING PLACES -- PHILOSOPHY, NOW MORE THAN EVER: SECURING OUR ENDS -- 10 The Good Green Life -- THE PARABLE OF WICKED AND WILD -- EARTH -- FOURIER'S BLANKET -- PUBLIC HEALTH MENACE -- HAVING A REASON -- THE VIRIDIAN COMMONWEALTH -- Postscript: The Right Thing for the Right Reason -- Notes -- INTRODUCTION -- CHAPTER 1: RETURN TO THE PALEOCENE -- CHAPTER 2: THE PRECIOUS VASE -- CHAPTER 3: RUSTLING IN THE BUSHES -- CHAPTER 4: THE WILD AND THE WICKED -- CHAPTER 5: CONTROL FREAK -- CHAPTER 6: DR. FEELGOOD AND MR. FIX-IT GO TO THE PICTURE SHOW -- CHAPTER 7: THE VOTER'S CONUNDRUM -- CHAPTER 8: THE AXES OF EVILDOERS -- CHAPTER 9: THE GREEN'S GAMBIT -- CHAPTER 10: THE GOOD GREEN LIFE -- INDEX Many ethicists and political advocates believe that the argument for environmentalism is simple: demonstrate that nature is valuable and obligations to protect the environment will follow. This approach to environmentalism often appears as a kind of consequentialism. This work, though sympathetic with environmentalism, argues against this consequentialist approach. It takes as its initiating presupposition the opposite stance: that nature can at times be quite disvaluable. In assuming this stance, it aims to carve a sharp distinction between events and actions, fundamentally splitting open the idea that actions are taken for reasons.