Pierfrancesco Biasetti - Böcker

This book explores the ethical dimensions of nature conservation, discussing how we value the natural world and how it can be protected in a complex context where many ethically significant interests must be carefully weighed and balanced.Beginning with foundational concepts of nature and humanity’s unique ecological role, the book examines how conservation aims to harmonize human impact with the natural world. It analyzes the complex distinction between the natural and the artificial, reveals the pluralism of values underpinning conservation, and delves into challenging practical issues, from the ethical treatment of wild animals and the role of biotechnology to the influence of human preferences in conservation and the pursuit of a virtuous relationship with nature. By integrating diverse ethical perspectives and stakeholder concerns, this work argues for a pluralistic, thoughtful approach to conservation ethics, one that moves beyond instrumental views toward relationship and care, embraces complexity in evaluation and deliberation, and fosters long-term success amid urgent global challenges.This book will be of great interest to students, scholars and practitioners of nature conservation, environmental management, environmental ethics and environmental philosophy.

This book explores the ethical dimensions of nature conservation, discussing how we value the natural world and how it can be protected in a complex context where many ethically significant interests must be carefully weighed and balanced.Beginning with foundational concepts of nature and humanity’s unique ecological role, the book examines how conservation aims to harmonize human impact with the natural world. It analyzes the complex distinction between the natural and the artificial, reveals the pluralism of values underpinning conservation, and delves into challenging practical issues, from the ethical treatment of wild animals and the role of biotechnology to the influence of human preferences in conservation and the pursuit of a virtuous relationship with nature. By integrating diverse ethical perspectives and stakeholder concerns, this work argues for a pluralistic, thoughtful approach to conservation ethics, one that moves beyond instrumental views toward relationship and care, embraces complexity in evaluation and deliberation, and fosters long-term success amid urgent global challenges.This book will be of great interest to students, scholars and practitioners of nature conservation, environmental management, environmental ethics and environmental philosophy.

We are still looking for a satisfactory definition of what makes an individual being a human individual. The understanding of human beings in terms of organism does not seem to be satisfactory, because of its reductionistic flavor. It satisfies our need for autonomy and benefits our lives thanks to its medical applications, but it disappoints our needs for conscious and free, self-determination. For similar reasons, i.e. because of its anti-libertarian tone, an organicistic understanding of the relationship between individual and society has also been rejected, although no truly satisfactory alternative for harmonizing individual and social wellness has been put forth. Thus, a reassessment of the very concepts of individual and organism is needed. In this book, the authors present a specific line of thought which started with Leibniz' concept of monad in 17th century, continued through Kant and Hegel, and as a result reached the first Eastern country to attempt to assimilate, as well as confront, with Western philosophy and sciences, i.e. Japan. The line of thought we are tracing has gone on to become one the main voices in current debates in the philosophy of biology, as well as philosophical anthropology, and social philosophy. As a whole, the volume offers a both historical, and systematic account of one specific understanding of individuals and their environment, which tries to put together its natural embedding, as well as its dialectical nature. Such a historical, systematic map will also allow to better evaluate how life sciences impact our view of our individual lives, of human activities, of institutions, politics, and, finally, of humankind in general.