E-Book Overview
In this thoroughly revised and updated second edition of the highly successfulEcological Ethics, Patrick Curry shows that a new and truly ecological ethic is both possible and urgently needed. With this distinctive proposition in mind, Curry introduces and discusses all the major concepts needed to understand the full range of ecological ethics. He discusses light green or anthropocentric ethics with the examples of stewardship, lifeboat ethics, and social ecology; the mid-green or intermediate ethics of animal liberation/rights; and dark or deep green ecocentric ethics. Particular attention is given to the Land Ethic, the Gaia Hypothesis and Deep Ecology and its offshoots: Deep Green Theory, Left Biocentrism and the Earth Manifesto. Ecofeminism is also considered and attention is paid to the close relationship between ecocentrism and virtue ethics. Other chapters discuss green ethics as post-secular, moral pluralism and pragmatism, green citizenship, and human population in the light of ecological ethics. In this new edition, all these have been updated and joined by discussions of climate change, sustainable economies, education, and food from an ecocentric perspective. This comprehensive and wide-ranging textbook offers a radical but critical introduction to the subject which puts ecocentrism and the critique of anthropocentrism back at the top of the ethical, intellectual and political agenda. It will be of great interest to students and activists, and to a wider public.
E-Book Content
Ecological Ethics
i
This book is dedicated to the memory and example of
Stan Rowe (1918-2004)
John Livingston (1923-2006)
and Val Plumwood (1939-2008)
ii
Ecological Ethics An Introduction PATRICK CURRY
polity
iii
Copyright © Patrick Curry 2011 The right of Patrick Curry to be identified as Author of this Work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. First published in 2011 by Polity Press Polity Press 65 Bridge Street Cambridge CB2 1UR, UK Polity Press 350 Main Street Malden, MA 02148, USA All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purpose of criticism and review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. ISBN-13: 978-0-7456-5125-5 ISBN-13: 978-0-7456-5126-2(pb) A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Typeset in ………….. on ………… pt …… by …………………………………………… Printed and bound in Great Britain by MPG Books Group Limited, Bodmin, Cornwall The publisher has used its best endeavours to ensure that the URLs for external websites referred to in this book are correct and active at the time of going to press. However, the publisher has no responsibility for the websites and can make no guarantee that a site will remain live or that the content is or will remain appropriate. Every effort has been made to trace all copyright holders, but if any have been inadvertently overlooked the publisher will be pleased to include any necessary credits in any subsequent reprint or edition. For further information on Polity, visit our website: www.politybooks.com
iv
Contents
Acknowledgements
1 Introduction This Book An Initial Example Looking Ahead Value and Nature Ethics and Grub What’s New? Transparency and Responsibility
2 The Earth in Crisis The Signs Analysing Ecocrisis Science and Technology
3 Ethics What is Ethics? Realism vs. Relativism The Naturalistic Fallacy Religious Ethics
v
Secular Ethics
4 Three Schools of Ethics Deontology (‘Rights’) Consequentialism (‘Effects’) Virtue Ethics A Green Vir