Hello Ecolog subscribers,
Those who teach or wish to learn about Earth-centered environmental
ethics might wish to take a look at the full text ofChapter 8 of Patrick
Curry's revised edition of his book*Ecological Ethics: An Introduction*
(Polity Press, 2011). The text is now posted at
http://www.ecospherics.net/pages/Curryh4.htm. This chapter contains the
fullest treatment of ecocentric ethics as such. It includes some
discussion of Leopold's Land Ethic, Gaia Theory, Deep Ecology, Left
Biocentrism, Earth Charter and the Manifesto for Earth. The Manifesto
for Earth http://www.ecospherics.net/pages/EarthManifesto.html is unique
in that it places human concerns firmly within an ecocentric context.
The reader might want to know, however, that other chapters of the book
discuss ethics and value, shallow and intermediate green ethics, the
treatment of animals, green citizenship, ecofeminism, moral pluralism,
post-secularism and human overpopulation - all in relation to ecocentric
ethics. There is also a chapter that tests ecocentric ethics against a
range of contentious issues including nuclear power and wind farms,
geo-engineering, the food system, carbon trading, ecosystem services,
aspects of capitalism and alternative movements.
Author Patrick Curry notes that ethics is continually inherent to all
relationships. This includes the natural world with its non-human places
and inhabitants. If so, then _ethics is not a niche or an optional
extra_. Nor can it be left to 'experts'. We are all responsible for the
ways that humans treat the world of nature. One can also find a review
of the book at the above web site.
Ted Mosquin.
