Thinking Nature

Sean J. McGrath

Published by Edinburgh University Press 2019

Thinking Nature

An Essay in Negative Ecology

Sean J. McGrath

In the series New Perspectives in Ontology

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474449281

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About this book

Makes a compelling case for a new Anthropocenic humanism where humans have a special responsibility for nature

Thinking Nature tracks the history of the concept of nature from the Hebrew Bible, through Renaissance philosophy and science, to Dark Ecology. Critical of the post-humanist trend in contemporary eco-criticism, Sean McGrath makes a compelling case for a new anthropocenic humanism – a humanism that is not at the expense of nature, and a naturalism that is not at the expense of the human.

Nature as the stable backdrop of human civilization appears to have vanished in the light of climate change, mass extinction, and genetic engineering. And yet the term ‘nature’ remains vital to both metaphysics and to public ecological discourse. This is because ‘nature’, in McGrath’s view, is a living symbol, and can survive the extinction of one or another of its meanings. Contemporary ecology must proceed in the absence of a clear concept of nature, not because none are possible, but because of the depth of the transformation occurring to the earth in the Anthropocene. Whatever shape the new concept of nature will take, it must include the one who thinks nature, the human being, since the separation of nature from culture, facts from values, is no longer tenable.

Key Features

Offers a fresh perspective on environmental issues
Shows how religion is not only still relevant to the environmental discussion but it is essential to the rethinking of nature needed today
Analyses cutting edge concepts in ecology such as the technosphere – the notion of technology becoming a self-organising system
Argues for an anthropocenic defence of the traditional distinction between human and non-human life and culture

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Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Preface Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
1. Religion is not Only the Problem, but also the Solution Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2. Nature is a Symbol, but of What? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	20
3. The Theology of Disenchantment Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	37
4. Eco-anxiety Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	58
5. Dark Ecology Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	73
6. The Human Difference Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	87
7. What’s Really Wrong with Heidegger Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	96
8. Negative Ecology Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	104
9. The Road not Taken Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	115
10. Contemplative Politics Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	138
11. Anthropocenic Nature Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	149
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	162
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	171

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 192
Illustrations
- Other: 2 B/W illustrations
Keywords: Philosophy

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Published: March 24, 2022
ISBN: 9781474449281

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Thinking Nature

An Essay in Negative Ecology