Environmental Philosophy : From Theory to Practice

The first comprehensive treatment of environmental philosophy, going beyond ethics to address the philosophical concepts that underlie environmental thinking and policy-making today* Encompasses all of environmental philosophy, including conservation biology, restoration ecology, sustainability, environmental justice, and more* Offers the first treatment of decision theory in an environmental philosophy text* Explores the conceptions of nature and ethical presuppositions that underlie contemporary environmental debates, and, moving from theory to practice, shows how decision theory translates to public policy* Addresses both hot-button issues, including population and immigration reform, and such ongoing issues as historical legacies and nations' responsibility and obligation for environmental problems* Anchors philosophical concepts to their practical applications, establishing the priority of the discipline's real-world importance

Sahotra Sarkar specializes in the history and philosophy of science and conservation biology; he helped develop the framework for systematic conservation planning for the protection of biodiversity (as co-author, with Chris Margules, of Systematic Conservation Planning). He also co-edited The Philosophy of Science: An Encyclopedia and A Companion to the Philosophy of Biology. He is the author of Doubting Darwin?: Creationist Designs on Evolution (Blackwell), Genetics and Reductionism, Molecular Models of Life, and Biodiversity and Environmental Philosophy. He is a professor of Philosophy and Integrative Biology at the University of Texas at Austin.