Philosophical Basics of Ecology and Economy

ISBN-13: 9780415494557 / Angielski / Twarda / 2009 / 208 str.

Malte Faber;Reiner Manstetten

Opis

In today's world - despite the dramatic anthropogenic environmental changes - a proper understanding of the relationship between humanity and nature requires a certain detachment. The pressing problems in their whole extent will only be fully understood and solved with comprehensive and patient analysis. Accordingly, this book develops new perspectives on fundamental questions of biology, ecology, and the economy, integrated within a framework of a terminology specially devised by the authors. By illuminating the epistemological backgrounds of ecological-economic research, the authors lay foundations for interdisciplinary environmental research and offer guidelines for practical action. In close contact to the findings of present-day biology and economics, they demonstrate the fruitfulness as well as the shortcomings of modern science for the understanding of the proper place of humankind in nature.. Frequently, current problems in the fields of economics, ecology, politics, philosophy and biology are discussed in a kind of "dialogue" with thinkers and poets like Bacon, Quesnay, Kant, Goethe and Novalis. On the other hand, the book offers traits of the Anglo-Saxon tradition of thought: a precise, analytical approach to theory and a pragmatic approach to action. Both approaches are used by the authors complementarily. Thus the authors lay the foundations for an ecological economical and political practice which is able to tackle concrete environmental problems on an encompassing and long-term basis. This translated volume will be of great use and interest to students of ecology, economics and in particular environmental education, sustainable development and environmental ethics.

Environmental education is an important part of all human education. Its aim is to help develop peoples’ ability to recognize themselves and their world, as well as to encounter nature. This requires a willingness to reflect in a self-critical manner on untried beliefs, prejudiced opinions and entrenched behavioural patterns.

The distinctive characteristic of this book’s approach is to provide a brand new and comprehensive view on problems pertaining to the relationship between humans and nature, without limit to any one particular discipline. Environmental issues are not exclusively physical, biological, economical, political, social, or cultural problems. They are rather all these and more.

The manner in which human beings accumulate knowledge from separate fields is analyzed and placed it in an intelligible theoretical context as something new.

Spis treści

1. Humanity, Nature and Environment  2. Environmental Education: Problems and Possible Solutions  3. The meaning of Economy and Ecology  4. Scientific Logos and Ignorance  5. The Essence Logos  6. The Existence Logos  7. Forms of Knowledge and Economic Dynamics  8. The Term Nature and the Three Purposes of Life

O autorze

Malte Faber is emeritus professor at the University of Heidelberg and since 2007 he has been a consultant for the Central, Province and Local governments of the People’s Republic of China. Reiner Manstetten is an assistant professor at the University of Heidelberg and since 2004 has been working at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ in Leipzig.