The Political Economy of the EnvironmentBeginning with a vision of humans being part of nature rather than apart from it, Boyce (economics, U. of Massachusetts- Amherst) argues that as well as degrading the environment, humans can improve it by investing in natural capital. He points to agriculture and the subsequent improvement of crop species, irrigation systems, and remediation efforts to ameliorate past damage humans have wreaked. He admits that calling such changes improvement is making a value judgement, and that he wants to protect nature because it is importance to human survival rather than for its own sake. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR |