A thought-provoking journey into the heart of environmental philosophy, and a call to rethink our place within it.
What does it truly mean to "regard nature" in an age shaped by industry, ideology, and ecological crisis?
In Regarding Nature, Andrew McLaughlin offers a powerful and accessible exploration of the philosophical foundations behind today's environmental debates. Moving beyond slogans and surface-level arguments, this book bridges the gap between deep ecology and progressive political thoughtâ"revealing both their tensions and their shared potential for transformative change.
With clarity and intellectual rigor, McLaughlin examines the dominant ideologies that shape our relationship with the natural worldâ"from capitalism and socialism to industrialism, science, and the enduring belief in human control over nature. Rather than presenting a combative manifesto, he guides readers through a rich landscape of ideas, encouraging thoughtful reflection and deeper understanding
Praised for its breadth, depth, and readability, Regarding Nature challenges readers to rethink anthropocentrism and consider a more radical, ecocentric vision of the futureâ"one that integrates ethics, politics, and ecology into a coherent and compelling framework.
Ideal for students, activists, and anyone seeking a meaningful engagement with environmental thought, this book is both an introduction and an invitation: to question, to connect, and to imagine new ways of living within the natural world.
Industry Reviews
"This book draws together insights in environmental philosophy and progressive political thought and discusses, in an accessible manner, a number of central issues and problems confronting the modern environmental movement. This will be of considerable appeal to liberal and left-leaning social progressives who have tended to dismiss much of modern environmental philosophy for being either ahistorical or not sufficiently attuned to cultural and social variability in the way in which we 'regard nature.' The author helps to explain and demystify deep ecology for a general readership by drawing out the areas of continuity and discontinuity between deep ecology and progressive political thought in an effort to build theoretical and practical bridges that will facilitate social change. In short, the author is weaving the galaxy of issues, agendas, and ideologies of modern environmentalism into a strong personal statement and an accessible story for a general readership." â" Robyn Eckersley, Politics Department, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
"McLaughlin has a firm position about ecology, but the main purpose of the book is not to argue it. Instead we get a rich and informative introduction to a whole series of different issues and controversies, and, in the course of that introduction, move toward the sort of position that McLaughlin wants to hold. Many philosophy books are combative in their style and tone; not this one. It is interesting, informative, and thought provoking, before it is a defense of a particular philosophical position. There is a striking correspondence between the style of writing the book and the position it puts forward." â" Richard Schmitt, Philosophy Department, Brown University
"Professor McLaughlin has written a book of the first importance regarding the philosophical and political questions that any serious contemplation of our ecological ills must raise. With admirable clarity and conceptual rigor, McLaughlin lays bare and critically examines the fundamental assumptions of the ideologies we find ourselves caught withinâ"capitalism, socialism, industrialism, control, reductionist science, anthropocentrism, egocentrism. The upshot is a book of unusual breadth and depth that is guaranteed to clarify and deepen the reader's own thinking and action 'regarding nature.'" â" Warwick Fox, author of Toward a Transpersonal Ecology
"This is the deep ecology book many environmentalists will savor. Regarding Nature provides a fine exploration of the position that we must include the earth and its ecosystems as part of our ideology and our actions. It could well be a watershed work for activists groping for a way to approach a viable future." â" Sierra Atlantic
