Environmental Virtue Ethics

As Sandler (philosophy, Northeastern U.) states in his introduction, there is no getting away from nature. Along with co-editor Cafaro (philosophy, Colorado State U.) and the contributors of these 13 essays, Sandler examines how humans have a difficult, complex and contradictory relationship with nature, despite the fact they are part of it. As a result the authors have found a worthy study in environmental virtue ethics, a discipline which seeks to understand this strained relationship. Their general topics include recognizing environmental virtue ethics, including its unique language, understanding the theory behind it at local and global levels, analyzing environmental virtues and vices (such as gluttony, arrogance, greed and apathy), and applying the study of environmental virtue ethics to such issues as consumerism and genetically modified agriculture. Essays include their own references. Annotation c2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Philip Cafaro is assistant professor of philosophy at Colorado State University. His work has appeared in journals such as Environmental Ethics, Ethics and the Environment, Journal of Social Philosophy, Philosophy Today, and Philosophy in the Contemporary World. Ronald Sandler is assistant professor of philosophy at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. His work on environmental ethics has appeared in Environmental Ethics, Philosophy in the Contemporary World, and Ethics for Everyday.