Nature, God and Humanity: Envisioning an Ethics of Nature / Edition 1

by Richard L. Fern

Overview

This study interweaves philosophical, scientific, religious and cultural factors to reveal why non-human animals and nature are objects of moral concern and how our well-being depends on harmony with nature as it was created. This argument is unique in its comprehensiveness, its overt reliance on traditional forms of religious faith, and its account of how those with conflicting ethics can work together to end the current, foolish abuse of nature.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521009706
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	04/04/2002
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	286
Product dimensions:	5.94(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.75(d)
Lexile:	1400L (what's this?)

About the Author

Richard L. Fern, who holds advanced degrees in Philosophy and Religious Studies (Ph.D., Yale University), Theology (M.Th., Southern Methodist University), and Law (J.D., Yale Law School), taught ethics for many years at the University of Illinois and Yale Divinity School. He is currently taking advantage of an early retirement to write on topics of interest.

Table of Contents

Introduction; Part I. The Ethics of Nature: 1. Moral concerns; 2. Humane holism; 3. Ecological wisdom; Part II. The Wild God: 4. Religious faith; 5. Theistic naturalism; Part III. The Body of Humanity: 6. Human nature and good; 7. The fellowship of creation.

Editorial Reviews

"...well-intentioned, wide-ranging..." Roger S. Gottlieb, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Journal of American Academy of Religion

"I believe this to be a great and important book. It presents the most comprehensive and convincing argument I have seen from inside the academic discipline of ethics for redirecting environmental ethic—as well as academic ethics more generally—back to the scriptural sources of western values. It is a stunning and vital argument." Peter Ochs, University of Virginia

"I believe this to be a great and important book. It presents the most comprehensive and convincing argument I have seen from inside the academic discipline of ethics for redirecting environmental ethic—as well as academic ethics more generally—back to the scriptural sources of western values. It is a stunning and vital argument." Peter Ochs, University of Virginia

"The mostly straightforward material in the first part will be useful for upper-division undergraduates and graduate students interested in environmental ethics.... [The] last two sections will be especially useful to theologians and religious studies students who aant to think about environmental ethics within the framework of Reformed theology." Choice

From the Publisher

Fern taught ethics for many years at the U. of Illinois and Yale Divinity School. This text evolved out of environmental ethics courses he taught at Yale from 1989 to 2000. Fern's goals are to create a framework for reflection on the place of humans in the world of nature, and to develop and defend specific concepts about our relationship to nature. Coverage includes humanity's ethics of nature and the moral standing of wild nature from the standpoint of philosophical ethics; the relevance of religious faith for an ethics of nature; the concept of theistic naturalism; and the relevance of cultural traditions to moral reflection. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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