The preservation of species /

For all persons seriously concerned about the destruction of natural environments in the contemporary world, this book presents a comprehensive rationale for preserving wild species and ecosystems. Bryan G. Norton appeals most centrally to "transformative value," the power of human contact...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Norton, Bryan G.
Corporate Authors: De Gruyter.
Published: Princeton University Press,
Publisher Address: Princeton, N.J. :
Publication Dates: [1988]
©1988
Literature type: eBook
Language: English
Subjects:
Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/9781400857869
http://www.degruyter.com/doc/cover/9781400857869.jpg
Summary: For all persons seriously concerned about the destruction of natural environments in the contemporary world, this book presents a comprehensive rationale for preserving wild species and ecosystems. Bryan G. Norton appeals most centrally to "transformative value," the power of human contacts with wild species to transform and uplift the human spirit. Until now species preservationists have found a theoretical basis for their policies in the "demand" value of wild species for fulfilling certain narrowly defined human needs or in controversial and badly understood proposals about the "intrinsic" values of species. This work examines such rationales and diverges from them by pointing to new sources of value for wild species: they have worth because they can transform human values.Because of the central role of biological diversity in environmental concerns, the book also provides a fresh perspective on environmental ethics more generally. Why Preserve Natural Variety? is sponsored by the Center for Philosophy and Public Policy at the University of Maryland, as was The Preservation of Species: The Value of Biological Diversity, which was edited by Professor Norton.Originally published in 1988.The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These paperback editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.
Carrier Form: 1 online resource (315 pages) : illustrations
ISBN: 9781400857869
Index Number: QL82
CLC: Q16
Contents: Frontmatter --
Contents --
Preface --
Introduction --
Introduction to Part I. --
1. Species Leave the Ark One by One /
2. The Biology of Human-Caused Extinction /
3. Social and Perceptual Factors in the Preservation of Animal Species /
Introduction to Part II --
4. Human Preferences, Economics, and the Preservation of Species /
5. On the Inherent Danger of Undervaluing Species /
6. On the Intrinsic Value of Nonhuman Species /
7. Philosophical Problems for Environmentalism /
8. Duties of Preservation /
Introduction to Part III --
9. On the Susceptibility of Different Species to Extinction: Elementary Instructions for Owners of a World /
10. Species Protection and Management Decisions in an Uncertain World /
11. Property Rights and Incentives in the Preservation of Species /
Epilogue /
Notes on Contributors --
Selected Bibliography --
Index.