Nature and the Environment in World Philosophies - by Kristien Hens & Franlu Vulliermet (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

A wide-ranging exploration of a variety of viewpoints on nature and the environment that draws on philosophical traditions around the world.

This open access collection explores the variety of ways we can relate to nature and the environment. It gives voice to perspectives often overlooked in mainstream approaches and calls for a new way of thinking about environmental challenges.

For centuries European traditions have dominated how we see the world, approaching it in terms of isolation, passiveness, and survival. This collection shows the value of taking a more inclusive approach and makes a timely and much-needed contribution to environmental philosophy in the 21st century.

A team of international contributors illustrate the richness of our connection with nature. They cover 19th and early 20th-century Japanese environmental philosophy centered around the figure of Tanaka Shozo; the Indian and African knowledge system; posthumanism and Oromo environmental ethics. By discussing how the relationship between humans and other forms of life is characterized in different cultures, they offer an holistic view of nature, emphasizing interconnectedness, agency and cooperation.

The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by the University of Antwerp, Belgium.

Review Quotes

"Discover how environmental philosophy is transformed and reborn as a truly diverse global resource. Drawing on East and South Asian, Latin American, and African philosophies, alongside environmental sciences, this book offers fresh insights for scholars and concerned readers seeking deeper understanding of today's environmental crisis" --Masahiro Morioka, Professor of Philosophy and Ethics, Waseda University, Japan

"Franlu Vulliermet and Kristien Hens have assembled and sagely edited a valuable collection of non-Western environment-related philosophies, ranging from African and indigenous American perspectives to non-dualist Japanese teachings. I particularly appreciated the presence of Oromo wisdom from Ethiopia, and the insightful contribution of my old friend Godfrey Tangwa from Cameroun." --Robin Attfield Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Cardiff University, UK

About the Author

Franlu Vulliermet is a PhD Researcher in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Antwerp, Belgium.

Kristien Hens is Professor of Bioethics in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Antwerp, Belgium.