Infinite NatureYou would be hard-pressed to find someone who categorically opposes protecting the environment, yet most people would agree that the environmentalist movement has been ineffectual and even misguided. Some argue that its agenda is misplaced, oppressive, and misanthropic—a precursor to intrusive government, regulatory bungles, and economic stagnation. Others point out that its alarmist rhetoric and preservationist solutions are outdated and insufficient to the task of galvanizing support for true reform. In this impassioned and judicious work, R. Bruce Hull argues that environmentalism will never achieve its goals unless it sheds its fundamentalist logic. The movement is too bound up in polarizing ideologies that pit humans against nature, conservation against development, and government regulation against economic growth. Only when we acknowledge the infinite perspectives on how people should relate to nature will we forge solutions that are respectful to both humanity and the environment. Infinite Nature explores some of these myriad perspectives, from the scientific understandings proffered by anthropology, evolution, and ecology, to the promise of environmental responsibility offered by technology and economics, to the designs of nature envisioned in philosophy, law, and religion. Along the way, Hull maintains that the idea of nature is social: in order to reach the common ground where sustainable and thriving communities are possible, we must accept that many natures can and do exist. Incisive, heartfelt, and brimming with practical solutions, Infinite Nature brings a much-needed and refreshing voice to the table of environmental reform. |
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Infinite nature
User Review - Not Available - Book VerdictIn his dense, intensely thought-provoking book, professor of natural resources Hull proposes a fair, rational dialogue between resource preservationists and resource consumers. He wants readers to ... Read full review
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Anthropogenic Nature | 10 |
Evolving Nature | 20 |
Ecological Nature | 37 |
In finite Nature | 57 |
Economic Nature | 74 |
Healthy Nature | 97 |
Fair Nature | 111 |
Human Nature | 141 |
Rightful Nature | 158 |
Aesthetic Nature | 178 |
Moral Nature | 192 |
Conclusion | 209 |
Notes | 217 |
| 235 | |
| 253 | |
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Common terms and phrases
aesthetic agriculture Aldo Leopold animals argue arguments behavior benefits biocentric biodiversity cause chapter chemicals chimpanzees concerns Conservation Ethic consumers costs create creation critique culture debate define definition degradation difficult dominant Earth ecological systems economic ecosystem efficient energy environment environmental quality evolution evolutionary example exist experiences extinction fields find finite fire first fish flow forest functions future genes genetic God’s green habitat holism human increased industry influence interests justified land ethic landscape Leopold lessons living million mitochondria moral motivated Native Americans natural selection nature versus nurture nature’s organisms pain pesticide plants plate tectonics Pluralizing nature policies political pollution population potential profit promote protect recreation reflect risks sacrifice scientific social Social Darwinism soil species speciesism specific survival sustain Thoreau thriving tion toxic trees U.S. Forest Service units of nature urban wastes wild
Bibliographic information
| Title | Infinite Nature |
| Author | R. Bruce Hull |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | University of Chicago Press, 2006 |
| ISBN | 0226359441, 9780226359441 |
| Length | 258 pages |
| Subjects | › › Nature / Environmental Conservation & Protection Nature / General Nature / Reference Science / General Science / Life Sciences / Ecology Science / Life Sciences / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |