Toward Unity among Environmentalists by Bryan G. Norton, Paperback, 9780195093971 | Buy online at The Nile
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Toward Unity among Environmentalists

Author: Bryan G. Norton  

The focus of Norton's book is the distinction between objectives and values in developing environmental policies. Norton argues that environmentalism is a coalition of many groups working toward common objectives, but unlike other social action movements the environmental coalition does not have shared moral principles.

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Summary

The focus of Norton's book is the distinction between objectives and values in developing environmental policies. Norton argues that environmentalism is a coalition of many groups working toward common objectives, but unlike other social action movements the environmental coalition does not have shared moral principles.

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Description

Today, six out of ten Americans describe themselves as "active" environmentalists or as "sympathetic" to the movement's concerns. The movement, in turn, reflects this millions-strong support in its diversity, encompassing a wide spectrum of causes, groups, and sometimes conflicting special interests. For far-sighted activists and policy makers, the question is how this diversity affects the ability to achieve key goals in the battle against pollution, erosion, andout-of-control growth. This insightful book offers an overview of the movement -- its past as well as its present -- and issues the most persuasive call yet for a unified approach to solvingenvironmental problems. Focusing on examples from resource use, pollution control, protection of species and habitats, and land use, the author shows how the dynamics of diversity have actually hindered environmentalists in the past, but also how a convergence of these interests around forward-looking policies can be effected, despite variance in value systems espoused. The book is thus not only an assessment of today's movement, but a blueprint for action that can help pull together manydifferent concerns under a common banner. Anyone interested in environmental issues and active approaches to their solution will find the author's observations both astute and creative.

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Critic Reviews

“"This is a thoughtful and provocative book. I'd recommend this book forevery teacher of environmental science or ecology. Students in advanced coursesin ecology, environmental conservation, and environmental philosophy would alsoprofit from the history of environmentalism and the vision of unification."--Ecology”

"A good, clearly written. . .history of environmentalism." --Integrated Environmental Management"In building his argument, Norton takes an interesting trek through the ideas of environmental notables (Pinchot, Muir, Leopold, Carson, deep ecologists), illustrating his ideas with practical instances of forest, watershed, and park management." --Earth Ethics"This is a thoughtful and provocative book. I'd recommend this book for every teacher of environmental science or ecology. Students in advanced courses in ecology, environmental conservation, and environmental philosophy would also profit from the history of environmentalism and the vision of unification." --Ecology"The book will be of general interest for a wide variety of readers: professionals and general readers, those studying environmental policy, and those simply having a general interest in it. A well-written book by an authority in the field." --Choice"One of the few publications on the application of environmental ethics to policy and practice. No recent contribution by a philosopher is more directly related to land management professionals. Land management professionals should read this book because of its choice combination of themes: the 'environmentalists' dilemma,' land use policy examples, and environmental ethics worldviews." --Journal of the American Planning Association"Bryan Norton is uniquely at home both in philosophical ethics and in contemporary ecological and policy debates. Both practically and metaphysically [the book] is a major contribution. Norton's extended discussions, which are grounded in turn in rich citations both of the current policy literature and of Norton's own interviews with many of the principles. One could profitably read the book just for these details. His reversal of the usual relation betweenpolicy and principle remains extraordinarily important and provocative, and the optimism that this reversal makes possible is plausible and more than welcome." --Environmental Ethics"A valuable addition to the literature of environmental ethics." --Hastings Center Report"Already established as a mature theorist in the field, Bryan Norton has now produced a masterly treatment which deserves a wide audience. Norton's sensitive discussion rewards reading and re-reading as he clearly and systematically expounds the axioms and institutions underlying the various positions on environmental policy. If the area continues to attract writers as good as Norton, this is something to look forward to with relish." --Times HigherEducation Supplement"There are good things to be found and, for non-post-modern readers, there are thoroughgoing chapters on Pollution Control, Biological Diversity, and Land Use Policy -- all related to the USA, but nevertheless of varying interest for the light shed on our own British and European problems." --New European"Takes an interdisciplinary approach to environmental economics and environmental sociology from a philosophical perspective." --Environment"A good, clearly written. . .history of environmentalism." --Integrated Environmental Management"In building his argument, Norton takes an interesting trek through the ideas of environmental notables (Pinchot, Muir, Leopold, Carson, deep ecologists), illustrating his ideas with practical instances of forest, watershed, and park management." --Earth Ethics"This is a thoughtful and provocative book. I'd recommend this book for every teacher of environmental science or ecology. Students in advanced courses in ecology, environmental conservation, and environmental philosophy would also profit from the history of environmentalism and the vision of unification." --Ecology"The book will be of general interest for a wide variety of readers: professionals and general readers, those studying environmental policy, and those simply having a general interest in it. A well-written book by an authority in the field." --Choice"One of the few publications on the application of environmental ethics to policy and practice. No recent contribution by a philosopher is more directly related to land management professionals. Land management professionals should read this book because of its choice combination of themes: the 'environmentalists' dilemma,' land use policy examples, and environmental ethics worldviews." --Journal of the American Planning Association"Bryan Norton is uniquely at home both in philosophical ethics and in contemporary ecological and policy debates. Both practically and metaphysically [the book] is a major contribution. Norton's extended discussions, which are grounded in turn in rich citations both of the current policy literature and of Norton's own interviews with many of the principles. One could profitably read the book just for these details. His reversal of the usual relation betweenpolicy and principle remains extraordinarily important and provocative, and the optimism that this reversal makes possible is plausible and more than welcome." --Environmental Ethics"A valuable addition to the literature of environmental ethics." --Hastings Center Report"Already established as a mature theorist in the field, Bryan Norton has now produced a masterly treatment which deserves a wide audience. Norton's sensitive discussion rewards reading and re-reading as he clearly and systematically expounds the axioms and institutions underlying the various positions on environmental policy. If the area continues to attract writers as good as Norton, this is something to look forward to with relish." --Times HigherEducation Supplement"There are good things to be found and, for non-post-modern readers, there are thoroughgoing chapters on Pollution Control, Biological Diversity, and Land Use Policy -- all related to the USA, but nevertheless of varying interest for the light shed on our own British and European problems." --New European"Takes an interdisciplinary approach to environmental economics and environmental sociology from a philosophical perspective." --Environment"Provides a clear example of how the skills of a good philosopher can contribute insight in the discussion of the foundations of policy. Norton has produced a masterly treatment which deserves a wide audience. Norton's sensitive discussion rewards reading and re-reading as he clearly and systematically expounds the axioms and institutions underlying the various positions on environmental policy. . . . clearly illustrated by case studies . . . handled in thefair, and competent manner that his readers have come to expect. The final achievement is considerable." --Environmental Values"Powerfully argued. . . . a thought provoking and accessible analysis. . . . it has much to offer environmentalists in this country who are seeking to understand and re-assess the values underpinning their work." --Peter Rawcliffe, ECOS, A Review of Conservation

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About the Author

Bryan G. Norton is professor of philosophy at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is the author of "Linguistic Frameworks and Ontology," "Why Preserve Natural Variety?" and" Toward Unity among Environmentalists," and the editor of "The Preservation of Species,"

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More on this Book

Today, six out of ten Americans describe themselves as "active" environmentalists or as "sympathetic" to the movement's concerns. The movement, in turn, reflects this millions-strong support in its diversity, encompassing a wide spectrum of causes, groups, and sometimes conflicting special interests. For far-sighted activists and policy makers, the question is how this diversity affects the ability to achieve key goals in the battle against pollution, erosion, and out-of-control growth. This insightful book offers an overview of the movement -- its past as well as its present -- and issues the most persuasive call yet for a unified approach to solving environmental problems. Focusing on examples from resource use, pollution control, protection of species and habitats, and land use, the author shows how the dynamics of diversity have actually hindered environmentalists in the past, but also how a convergence of these interests around forward-looking policies can be effected, despite variance in value systems espoused. The book is thus not only an assessment of today's movement, but a blueprint for action that can help pull together many different concerns under a common banner. Anyone interested in environmental issues and active approaches to their solution will find the author's observations both astute and creative.

Read more

Product Details

Publisher
Oxford University Press Inc
Published
11th May 1995
Pages
304
ISBN
9780195093971

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