Philosophy Gone Wild

by Holmes Rolston III

"Here are fifteen essays written from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s by a pioneering environmental ethicist. The collection is divided into four ethics and nature, values in nature, environmental philosophy in practice, and nature in experience. . . . Rolston's writing often evokes the best of American philosophy of nature. He writes with flair and grace. The book is good reading because it is good literature. Rolston raises unsettling questions [and] a formidable challenge. The agenda is well set." -- F. E. Bernard, Ethics"An important book that deserves a wide student readership . . . . Highly appropriate for ecology . . . and philosophy courses, as well as courses dealing with environmental law and policy-making." -- J. C. Kricher, Choice

Genres: Philosophy, Environment

269 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1989

About the author

Holmes Rolston III was an American philosopher who was University Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Colorado State University. He is best known for his contributions to environmental ethics and the relationship between science and religion. Among other honors, Rolston won the 2003 Templeton Prize, awarded by Prince Philip in Buckingham Palace. He gave the Gifford Lectures, University of Edinburgh, 1997–1998. He also served on the Advisory Council of METI (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence).
The Darwinian model is used to define the main thematic concepts in Rolston's philosophy and, in greater depth, the general trend of his thinking.

Reviews

[Jean-françois Virey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume, a collection of previously published papers, is full of interesting analyses, clarifying for instance the difference between anthropocentric and ecocentric ethics or between the different kinds (and sub-kinds) of value nature may have. The (short) final section was a bit to heavy for me because it consists of lyrical meditations on nature in a very figurative and poetic style which I am no longer accustomed to reading (if I ever was.) I just wish the book was illustrated, and came with a glossary of scientific terms, which Rolston almost seems to use for their incantatory power, and without the expectation of being understood by the average reader.