Down to Earth Ethics

Why should we care for the environment? What is the extent of our responsibility for the life around us, and upon what might this responsibility be based? Despite a growing awareness for the state of the Earth's environments and species, our ability to answer the above questions is hampered today by the struggle to recognize the inherent value of living beings. This book looks at why this is so. It turns to the life and works of Albert Schweitzer, Martin Buber, and Aldo Leopold to offer a simple answer to our values dilemma, namely, that the key to moral awareness and ethical motivation for the living world is found in the humanizing effects of mutual relationship. In the final chapter, it offers practical steps toward restoring moral awareness through the nurturing practices of small farming, gardening, and ecosystem restoration. Though this book will be of interest to any person drawn to the humble goods of the garden, it is particularly targeted toward those engaged in the disciplines of environmental ethics and moral epistemology.