The Green Halo: A Bird's-Eye View of Ecological Ethics

by Erazim V. Kohák

Presenting a wide range of views and strategies, The Green Halo analyzes the problematic relations between humans and the rest of the natural world. The author looks at the views of thinkers including John Muir, Aldo Leopold, and Al Gore, and suggests alternative ways to view nature, assign it value, and respond to ecological crises.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Czech Literature

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Šimon Michalčík · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent thought-provoking journey through the historical breadths and conceptual widths that environmental philosophy has to offer. Kohák—that to me becomes one of the biggest Czechs—does an excellent job in translating his years of thorough intellectual explorations to the reader in an understandable and mature way without actually telling you what to think or what to do, which in the end is up to everyone's own judgement and consideration.

The book requires attention and time, and while it reads a lot like a spoken lecture, I'm grateful that it is not and that I had the time to mull over its contents, read certain passages twice or jump to often witty and long footnotes.

To say that it is a must-read for every environmentalist would go against one of the core thoughts deducted from this book. No, it is a must-read for absolutely everyone. For it is quite clear that disconnection from nature and lack of thinking about our behaviours are the core reasons why humanity might soon cease to exist. This book will provide you with at least the latter and inspire you to seek the former (perhaps even more than you already have).

[Tomáš Sixta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totálně must-read. Psáno srozumitelně, a přesto pojednává nezjednodušeně základní filosofická východiska ekologické etiky. A i po 20 letech je to úplně aktuální. Pro všechny kdy mají hlubší zájem o ekologii velmi dobrý úvod.

[Kryštof · Rating 4 out of 5]

Základní rozcestník ekologického myšlení. Psáno velmi citlivě a čtivě.

[Gabe Mills]

Talking and coming up with ideas is great but I think what this book shows is that in the end, you need to actually act in conjunction with those ideas.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and well thought out theories and ethics on the subject of humans and their relationship to the natural world. However, i would not have been able to grasp many the ideas as well as i did if i had never had a class discussions over the content in my Global Environment class at KU.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific academic overview of ecological ethics from a writer who is easy to read, original and insightful, and profoundly moral. I had no expectation that I would enjoy reading this as much as I did. His last section on ecology as ideology was worth the whole book but there are many valuable moments throughout.