Matthew Alan Cahn - Thinking About the Environment: Readings on Politics, Property and the Physical World:

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THINKING ABOUT
THE ENVIRONMENT

Readings on Politics, Property,
and the Physical World

THINKING ABOUT
THE ENVIRONMENT

Readings on Politics, Property,
and the Physical World

Matthew Alan Cahn and Rory OBrien

First published 1996 by M.E. Sharpe

Published 2015 by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

Copyright 1996 Taylor & Francis. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Notices
No responsibility is assumed by the publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use of operation of any methods, products, instructions or ideas contained in the material herein.

Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in evaluating and using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments described herein. In using such information or methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others, including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility.

Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Thinking about the environment: readings on politics, property, and the physical world / edited by Matthew Alan Cahn and Rory OBrien.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-56324-795-X (cloth : alk. paper).ISBN 1-56324-796-8 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Environmentalism.
2. ManInfluence on nature.
3. Philosophy of nature.
4. Social ecology.
I. Cahn, Matthew Alan, 1961
II. OBrien, Rory, 1955
GE195.T45 1996
304.2dc20
9610749
CIP

ISBN 13:9781563247965 (pbk)
ISBN 13:9781563247958 (hbk)

For Diane, Jonah, and Andrea

---

Contents

Rory OBrien and Matthew Cahn

Rory OBrien

Genesis

Aristotle

St. Augustine

Sam Gill

Frank Waters

Rory OBrien

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

John Locke

Karl Marx

Immanuel Kant

John Rawls

Herbert Marcuse

Matthew Cahn

Matthew Cahn

Henry David Thoreau

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Rachel Carson

Paul Ehrlich

Barry Commoner

Arne Naess

Garrett Hardin

Ynestra King

Murray Bookchin

Edward O. Wilson

Robert D. Bullard

Matthew Cahn

Peter Wenz

Christopher Stone

David W. Orr

Lester Milbrath

Terry L. Anderson and Donald R. Leal

Herman E. Daly

Robert C. Paehlke

Rory OBrien

Daniel Press

James L. Hudson

Robert O. Vos

---

This project evolved during a series of conversations sparked by the North-ridge earthquake. As we watched our classrooms and offices being replaced by trailers and porta-potties, we began to think more practically about the relationship between nature and our lives. The earthquake, in its devastating power, clearly reminded us of the primacy of the natural environment. Similarly, our inability to carry on mundane day-to-day tasks such as scheduling classes and giving lectures reminded us of our need toat least in partsubdue aspects of the natural environment.

In essence, our response to this natural disaster highlights a question that plagues industrial societies as we look toward the future: To what extent do we limit our development in order to preserve nature? Although we have entered a phase of accelerated growth over the last two hundred years, the drive to find a balance between development and preservation has gone on for centuries. Thinkers from across the Western tradition have struggled with how human civilization fits in the physical world. Certainly the preparation of this book has helped us to integrate our thoughts on thinking about nature. We hope it will help our students as well.

It is therefore fitting that we acknowledge the contributions of our students, and of our teachers. Several people have made contributions to this project over time, including Andrea Nguyen, Diane Berger, Sheldon Kamieniecki, Thomas Greene, Mark Kann, Robert Vos, and Daniel Press. Research assistance was tirelessly provided by Nimrod Cohen. Manuscript preparation was provided enthusiastically by Cynthia Harris. Editorial assistance was provided by Patricia Kolb and Elizabeth Granda. Responsibility for any and all shortcomings, of course, lies squarely with us.

Matthew A. Cahn
Rory OBrien
Northridge, California

THINKING ABOUT
THE ENVIRONMENT

Readings on Politics, Property,
and the Physical World

RORY OBRIEN AND MATTHEW CAHN

Over the last 300 years environmental degradation has moved from challenge to quagmire. The difficulty of changing behavior patterns, the interests associated with our complex international economic structure, different notions of how development and nature should be balanced, and conflicting assessments of the risks posed by chemicals in the environment all converge to make environmental challenges extremely difficult to solve. Why should we concern ourselves with ideas about nature? Whether our concern is the development of a greater awareness of the natural world, or the creation of public policies that work to protect the natural world, thinking about nature can help us gain a greater understanding of the physical environment and how we, as humans, fit into the larger drama of ecological diversity and interdependence.

Two Paths Toward the Same Goal

Philosophy and normative theory may provide conceptual tools and methodologies for assessing environmental challenges. When philosophers or theorists consider an issue, they strive to go beyond the most obvious level of inquiry. Philosophers look for causes in an effort to understand the underlying nature of things. In this sense philosophy is a quest for knowledge. This pursuit depends not so much on information gathered through research as it does on speculation about a given question. Philosophy is sometimes referred to as the most general science, in that its project is to discover underlying truths. All science seeks to find answers. In this manner, philosophy can be viewed as both the pursuit of wisdom and the knowledge itself that is gained through philosophical inquiry.

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