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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.