Environmental Thought

Environmental thought has a rich and extensive history. Leading philosopher Robin Attfield guides readers through the key developments and debates that have defined the field from ancient times to the present.

Attfield investigates ancient, medieval and early modern environmental contributions; Darwin and his successors; the debate in America involving Thoreau, Marsh, Muir and Pinchot; and the foundation of the science of ecology in the western world. He goes on to discuss the central themes of key environmentalist works of the 1970s and 1980s, along with the major debates in environmental philosophy, including Lovelock's Gaia hypothesis. Ultimately, he confronts the current environmental emergency and the crises of climate change, air pollution and biodiversity loss. Each chapter concludes with a list of recommended reading, selected to invite readers to explore the book's fascinating topics in greater depth.

A pivotal text in its field, Environmental Thought: A Short History will be of interest to students and scholars of history, philosophy, ethics, geography, religion, biology and environmental studies.