Ecofeminist Philosophy: A Western Perspective on What It Is and Why It Matters

by Karen J. Warren

How are the unjustified dominations of women and other humans connected to the unjustified domination of animals and nonhuman nature? What are the characteristics of oppressive conceptual frameworks and systems of unjustified domination? How does an ecofeminist perspective help one understand issues of environmental and social justice? In this important new work, Karen J. Warren answers these and other questions from a Western perspective. Warren looks at the variety of positions in ecofeminism, the distinctive nature of ecofeminist philosophy, ecofeminism as an ecological position, and other aspects of the movement to reveal its significance to both understanding and creatively changing patriarchal (and other) systems of unjustified domination.

Genres: Feminism, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Environment, Gender, Theory, School

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

Karen J. Warren is an author, scholar, and former Professor and Chair of Philosophy at Macalester College.

Karen Warren received her B.A. in philosophy from the University of Minnesota (1970) and her Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in 1978. Before her long tenure at Macalester College, which began in 1985, Warren was Professor of Philosophy at St. Olaf College in the early 1980s. Warren was the Ecofeminist-Scholar-in-Residence at Murdoch University in Australia. In 2003, she served as an Oxford University Round Table Scholar and as Women's Chair in Humanistic Studies at Marquette University in 2004. She has spoken widely on environmental issues, feminism, critical thinking skills and peace studies in many international locations including Buenos Aires, Gothenburg, Helsinki, Oslo, Manitoba, Melbourne, Moscow, Perth, the U.N. Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro (1992), and San Jose.

Reviews

[Elnaz]

The book introduces the main tenets of ecofeminist philosophy in a clear way. By introducing the patriarchy and the dominating conceptual frameworks it brings, Warren defends an ecofeminist theory which interconnects women/ other Human Others/ nature within that oppressive system. This theory not only develops where sexism is working but it also functions in liberating other kinds of "isms of domination"-in her words- including racism, classism, ableism, etc.

[Shelly Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clear introduction and survey of western ecofeminist philosophy. Warren at least attempts to be sensitive to intersectionality (though, often fails at it). The text would be a great read for an intro class in environmental ethics. Warren isn't my favorite ecofeminist writer or thinker, but this text is meticulously researched and clearly written.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful for me, intelligent yet I don't have to be a rocket scientist to read the theory and understand it.

[Alise Teika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ecofeminist philosophy aims to analyze and eliminate unjustified domination of humans (people of colour, children, the poor, and, disproportionately within and outside these groups, women) in connection with unjustified domination of nature. Warren places her take on ecofeminism in relation with other environmental ethics theories, the hierarchy theory in ecology, models of social justice, and spirituality. Memorable messages include:
1) rationalistic ethics are limited - take emotional intelligence, care practices and contextuality seriously in ethics;
2) relationships are central to conceptions of humans and nonhuman nature as a community – use narratives to center relationships and humans as relational selves;
3) at least within current institutional structures, trade-offs between important values are inevitable and living an "ecologically perfect lifestyle" – impossible. (I'd recommend Against Purity: Living Ethically in Compromised Times for a deeper look at this.) According to Warren's ecofeminism, what one should prioritize and support in moral dilemmas is "policies and practices that ensure that present-day women are able to maintain a daily livelihood, while also challenging the very structures that keep intact the unjustified domination of women by men.” (45)

I missed a conclusion, a sense of dialogue and, as others have mentioned, wider ecological/other species considerations. Not the most moving or encompassing read, but a fine introduction to the subject.

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I found this to be a very thorough exploration of an Ecofeminist Philosophy; however, as the introduction notes this is a book for a wider audience and actually targeted at non-scholars, I felt it lacked appropriate narrative to engage such an audience. I am a scholar, although only minimally versed in philosophy, so I did find this accessible, but if I had picked this book up prior to my initial, background philosophy texts I would have been quite overwhelmed.

[Anna Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Academic - but really beautiful and important. I read it in college and need to reread it for these times.

[Lauren]

I understood nothing

[Rhonda Browning · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a text of conceptual issues on Western ecofemenist philosophy. It's largely opinion with a variety of perspectives, including the author's own version of ecofeminist philosophy. It touches upon environmental ethics, which I believe should have been addressed in more depth. The ongoing mention and discussion of "other human Others," a.k.a. women, which permeates the book, leaves me (as a woman), feeling sick. "Other human Others?" I found it demeaning and the opposite of what feminism and ecofeminism (outside of Warren's opinion), stands for.

I found a few passages worth underlining, however most of these were quotes Warren had pulled from other sources.

Perhaps this text can serve as a primer for one beginning the study of Western ecofeminist philosophy, if for no other reason that it references more important works (the ongoing bibliography makes up about a twelfth of the book). Personally, I was disappointed and would not recommend this text.

[Amanda Kingston]

"To care about another is to be present to the other-- to be actively attentive to the other, to listen, to learn, to receive from the other-- where the other is acknowledged and valued as different from ourselves."
•••
Really loved reading this- Warren's approach to ecofeminism is so generous and speaks to a vision of a world where we see the interconnection of the world in ways that completely shifts our ways of being.

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first, I found this book so awful it infuriated me, but by the end of the book I appreciated the contribution it makes to ecofeminist philosophy--though I think the eco- part could have been stronger.

[Mark]

CASCADES HQ1233 .W297 2000