Aristotle’s Powers and Responsibility for Nature

This book addresses the theme of what «nature» is and humans’ obligations toward the natural world. It demonstrates that an approach based in metaphysics can help us to understand better what nature is and our obligations to the natural world. Beginning with ideas traced from Aristotle through some of the signifcant figures in European philosophy, the author shows that each living thing is a unique source of value. He then argues that this value puts humans under an obligation and that adopting an attitude of responsibility to living things is an essential part of what it means to be human.

Stephan Millett lives in Perth, Western Australia and works as an ethics specialist at Curtin University. He is a former newspaper editor, journalism educator and school teacher. He was awarded his PhD in Philosophy from Murdoch University in 1997.

Leseprobe

Contents: The Heritage of Aristotle: Aristotle’s Biological Teleology - Persevering in Being: and – Moral Considerability: The Status of Organisms and Ecosystems - Nature, Moral Considerability and Respect - Selves, Conatus and Aristotle – Value and Responsibility: Value, Complexity and Obligation.