Political Theory and Ecological Values by Tim Hayward

Political Theory and Ecological Values by Tim Hayward

This book shows why political theorists must take account of ecological concerns as part of their core enterprise, and how they can do so. It mounts a challenge to the received wisdom, of political theorists and their ecological critics alike, that specifically ecological values go against human interests. In Part I, Hayward criticizes those accounts of ecological values which appeal to nature's 'intrinsic value' or advocate a 'non-anthropolocentric' ethic. Such appeals are bound to fail, he argues, not because their moral impulse is too demanding but because 'values' unrelated to human interests are conceptually incoherent. Insisting on them is politically counterproductive. Part II reveals how it is actually in humans' interests to integrate ecological concern into political institutions and policies. Following a nuanced discussion of 'self-interest', Hayward goes on to show how some ecological problems can be solved by harnessing humans' rational self-interest to market-based and fiscal policies, and others by using more enlightened interests in the provision of social goods. The argument regarding ecological problems that affect non-humans more directly than humans is that humans have an interest in self-respect and integrity which provides reasons to respect non-human beings and their environmental interests. The concluding chapter indicates how the articulation of ecological values in terms of interests makes it possible to integrate them into a political theory of basic social institutions. This book will be of interest to students and scholars in political theory and environmental studies.

Tim Hayward is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics at the University of Edinburgh.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780745618081
ISBN 10	0745618081
Title	Political Theory and Ecological Values
Author	Tim Hayward
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Year published	1998-12-09
Number of pages	208
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.