Encountering Nature

Toward an Environmental Culture

Bibliographic Data

ID5064201
AuthorsRonald W Hepburn (University of Edinburgh, corresponding author), R Hepburn
Year2008
Volume48
Issue3
Pages352-354
Publication date2008-07-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe British Journal of Aesthetics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0007-0904 • E-ISSN: 1468-2842
PublisherOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/aesthj/ayn027
OpenAlexW2050489860
LanguageEN
Citations received9

THOMAS Heyd's ‘overall aim is to reflect on the cultural dimensions of our relationship with nature' (p. 1). His book is in three parts: ‘Environmental Conscience', ‘Appreciating Nature', and ‘Culture and Nature'. Part I considers ‘ways of conceiving afresh the idea of ethics in relation to the natural environment'. Our aim needs to be a ‘better understanding of the conditions that may generate pro-environmental conscience' (p. 11). To oppose ‘present accelerating trends towards environmental degradation', we must think how best to develop ‘a sense of responsibility to non-human parts of our natural environment, and perhaps to the natural environment as a whole' (pp. 29–30). Furthermore, we need a ‘self-image that goes beyond the role of economic profit-maximizer' (p. 33). While fully acknowledging the importance of philosophical theory, Heyd has a constant concern with its practical application. For instance, in Chapter 3, he considers, specifically and impressively, as one crucial domain of application, how our activity at the workplace has ‘an overwhelming impact on our natural environment' (p. 56

Biology · Conscience · Environmental degradation · Environmental ethics · Epistemology · Natural (archaeology · Relation (database · Sociology · Climate Change and Geoengineering · Computer Science · Ecology · Environmental Philosophy and Ethics · History · Philosophy · Religion, Ecology, and Ethics

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