Biophilia as an Environmental Virtue
Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Ethics
Format:
Journal Article
Publication Date:
Nov 30, 2012
Pages:
999 - 1014
Sources ID:
86086
Notes:
DOI 10.1007/s10806-013-9437-z; ISSN 1187-7863
Visibility:
Public (group default)
Abstract:
(Show)
Beginning with E. O. Wilson's notion of biophilia, our 'innate tendency to focus on life and life-like processes,' I construct an environmental virtue with the same name that meets certain criteria an environmental virtue should meet. I argue that this virtue can have its status as a virtue by its contribution to human flourishing, while having care for live nature as its target, and care about live nature as its affective content. I explore its characteristics as both an individual and a collective virtue, and finally show how cultivation of it might serve to unite various communities in the cause of preserving biodiversity.