Environmental philosophy: response to critics

Sahotra Sarkar

doi:10.1016/j.shpsc.2013.10.011

Environmental philosophy: response to critics

Stud Hist Philos Biol Biomed Sci. 2014 Mar:45:105-9. doi: 10.1016/j.shpsc.2013.10.011. Epub 2013 Nov 21.

Author

Sahotra Sarkar¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Philosophy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA. Electronic address: sarkar@austin.utexas.edu.

PMID: 24268930
DOI: 10.1016/j.shpsc.2013.10.011

Abstract

The following piece is a response to the critiques from Frank, Garson, and Odenbaugh. The issues at stake are: the definition of biodiversity and its normativity, historical fidelity in ecological restoration, naturalism in environmental ethics, and the role of decision theory. The normativity of the concept of biodiversity in conservation biology is defended. Historical fidelity is criticized as an operative goal for ecological restoration. It is pointed out that the analysis requires only minimal assumptions about ethics. Decision theory is presented as a tool, not a domain-limiting necessary requirement for environmental philosophy.

Keywords: Biodiversity; Conservation biology; Decision theory; Ecological restoration; Historical fidelity; Naturalism.

MeSH terms

Biodiversity*
Conservation of Natural Resources / methods*
Decision Making*
Ecology / ethics*
Ecosystem
Goals*
Humans
Philosophy*
Social Values*