Sahotra Sarkar specializes in the history and philosophy of science and conservation biology; he helped develop the framework for systematic conservation planning for the protection of biodiversity (as co-author, with Chris Margules, of Systematic Conservation Planning). He also co-edited The Philosophy of Science: An Encyclopedia and A Companion to the Philosophy of Biology. He is the author of Doubting Darwin?: Creationist Designs on Evolution (Blackwell), Genetics and Reductionism, Molecular Models of Life, and Biodiversity and Environmental Philosophy. He is a professor of Philosophy and Integrative Biology at the University of Texas at Austin.
Acknowledgments
List of Acronyms
1. Introduction
2. What Is the Environment?
3. Ethics for the Environment
4. From Ethics to Policy
5. Biodiversity and Conservation
6. Environmental Restoration
7. Sustainability
8. Justice and Equity
9. Where Does This Leave Us?
Glossary
References
Index
The first comprehensive treatment of environmental philosophy, going beyond ethics to address the philosophical concepts that underlie environmental thinking and policy-making today
* Encompasses all of environmental philosophy, including conservation biology, restoration ecology, sustainability, environmental justice, and more
* Offers the first treatment of decision theory in an environmental philosophy text
* Explores the conceptions of nature and ethical presuppositions that underlie contemporary environmental debates, and, moving from theory to practice, shows how decision theory translates to public policy
* Addresses both hot-button issues, including population and immigration reform, and such ongoing issues as historical legacies and nations' responsibility and obligation for environmental problems
* Anchors philosophical concepts to their practical applications, establishing the priority of the discipline's real-world importance