The death of our planet's species : a challenge to ecology and ethics / Martin Gorke ; translated from German by Patricia Nevers.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gorke, Martin, 1958-

Standardized Title:

Artensterben. English

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ecology--Philosophy.

Ecology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (424 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington : Island Press, c2003.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The present rate and extent of species extinction -- estimated by some scientists as one species every 20 minutes -- are unprecedented in the history of mankind. Human activities are responsible for nearly all species loss, yet ethical aspects of this crisis are rarely mentioned. Any concern expressed tends to be over potentially valuable resources -- information for scientists, or compounds that could be used in new medicines -- that are lost when a species disappears. In The Death of Our Planet's Species, Martin Gorke argues that such a utilitarian perspective is not only shortsighted but morally bankrupt. Holding doctoral degrees in both ecology and philosophy, Gorke is uniquely qualified to examine the extinction crisis from both scientific and philosophical perspectives. He offers a wide-ranging review of the literature on the subject, drawing together those two lines of reasoning that are almost always pursued separately. After critical examination of the current state of relevant ecological knowledge, Gorke presents a carefully considered case for attributing intrinsic value to all of nature, including all species. At the heart of his argument is an analysis of the concept of morality. According to this analysis, the universal character of morality does not permit us to establish limits of moral considerability. More precisely, every act of exclusion from the moral community is an arbitrary act and is not compatible with a moral point of view. The Death of Our Planet's Species sets forth a sound and original argument about the philosophical and ethical dimensions of species conservation. Throughout, the author combines a high level of theoretical sophistication with clear and straightforward writing. Orignially published in German, this Island Press edition makes The Death of Our Planet's Species available for the first time to English-speaking experts and lay readers.

Contents:

Intro

About Island Press

Title Page

Copyright Page

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

1. Introduction: The Basic Problem and Possible Solutions

Part A: Hopes for an "Ecological Solution

I: Ecology as the Epitome of Controlling Nature?

2. Technical Optimism

3. Supposed and Temporary Limits

4. Fundamental Limits of Ecology

5. Limits Set by Epistemology and Theory of Science

6. Alternatice Science?

7. Science and Worldviews

II: The Science of Ecology as a Normative Authority?

8. The Naturalistic Fallacy

9. Consequences of Naturalism

10. What Do We Mean by "Ecological"?

11. A Critique of Guiding Principles of Ecology

12. Ecological Health?

13. Ecologism

III: What Ecology Has to Offer

14. The Normativistic Fallacy

15. "Ecological Thinking

16. Principles of a Change in Attitude

17. Questions for Ethics Posed by Ecology

Part B: The Debate about and Ethical Solition

18. A Typology of Positions in Environmental Ethics

19. The Scope of the Discussion

I: A Pragmatic Appraoch: Is Anthropocentrism Sufficient?

20. Species Protection as an Intuitive Postulate

21. Athropocentric Justification for Species Protection

22. The Limits of Utlity Argumentation

23. Psychological and Sociopsychological Aspects

24. Expanding the Scope of Moral Responsibility

II: A Theoretical Approach: Can Holism Be Justified?

25. Fundanmental Objections to Extension

26. Regarding the Nature, Claims and Prerqusites of Justification

27. From an Antrhopocentric Worldview to a Holistic One

28. Justification for Holostic Ethics

29. Obejctions from Other Ethical Schools o Thought

30. Species Protection as a Paradigm of Pluralistic Holism

31. Balancing Interestis and Dealing with Conflicting Duties

32. Conclusions and Prospects

33. Notes

34. Biblography.

About the Author

Index

Island Press Board of Directors 2003.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 358-393) and index.

ISBN:

9781610910576

1610910575

9781423707783

1423707788

OCLC:

614751189