Today, six out of ten Americans describe themselves as
"active" environmentalists or as "sympathetic" to the
movement's concerns. The movement, in turn, reflects this
millions-strong support in its diversity, encompassing a
wide spectrum of causes, groups, and sometimes conflicting
special interests. For far-sighted activists and policy
makers, the question is how this diversity affects the
ability to achieve key goals in the battle against
pollution, erosion, and out-of-control growth. This
insightful book offers an overview of the movement -- its
past as well as its present -- and issues the most
persuasive call yet for a unified approach to solving
environmental problems. Focusing on examples from resource
use, pollution control, protection of species and habitats,
and land use, the author shows how the dynamics of diversity
have actually hindered environmentalists in the past, but
also how a convergence of these interests around
forward-looking policies can be effected, despite variance
in value systems espoused. The book is thus not only an
assessment of today's movement, but a blueprint for action
that can help pull together many different concerns under a
common banner. Anyone interested in environmental issues and
active approaches to their solution will find the author's
observations both astute and creative.
Industry Reviews
"A good, clearly written. . .history of environmentalism." --Integrated Environmental Management
"In building his argument, Norton takes an interesting trek through the ideas of environmental notables (Pinchot, Muir, Leopold, Carson, deep ecologists), illustrating his ideas with practical instances of forest, watershed, and park management." --Earth Ethics
"This is a thoughtful and provocative book. I'd recommend this book for every teacher of environmental science or ecology. Students in advanced courses in ecology, environmental conservation, and environmental philosophy would also profit from the history of environmentalism and the vision of unification." --Ecology
"The book will be of general interest for a wide variety of readers: professionals and general readers, those studying environmental policy, and those simply having a general interest in it. A well-written book by an authority in the field." --Choice
"One of the few publications on the application of environmental ethics to policy and practice. No recent contribution by a philosopher is more directly related to land management professionals. Land management professionals should read this book because of its choice combination of themes: the 'environmentalists' dilemma,' land use policy examples, and environmental ethics worldviews." --Journal of the American Planning Association
"Bryan Norton is uniquely at home both in philosophical ethics and in contemporary ecological and policy debates. Both practically and metaphysically [the book] is a major contribution. Norton's extended discussions, which are grounded in turn in rich citations both of the current policy literature and of Norton's own interviews with many of the principles. One could profitably read the book just for these details. His reversal of the usual relation between
policy and principle remains extraordinarily important and provocative, and the optimism that this reversal makes possible is plausible and more than welcome." --Environmental Ethics
"A valuable addition to the literature of environmental ethics." --Hastings Center Report
"Already established as a mature theorist in the field, Bryan Norton has now produced a masterly treatment which deserves a wide audience. Norton's sensitive discussion rewards reading and re-reading as he clearly and systematically expounds the axioms and institutions underlying the various positions on environmental policy. If the area continues to attract writers as good as Norton, this is something to look forward to with relish." --Times Higher
Education Supplement
"There are good things to be found and, for non-post-modern readers, there are thoroughgoing chapters on Pollution Control, Biological Diversity, and Land Use Policy -- all related to the USA, but nevertheless of varying interest for the light shed on our own British and European problems." --New European
"Takes an interdisciplinary approach to environmental economics and environmental sociology from a philosophical perspective." --Environment
"A good, clearly written. . .history of environmentalism." --Integrated Environmental Management
"In building his argument, Norton takes an interesting trek through the ideas of environmental notables (Pinchot, Muir, Leopold, Carson, deep ecologists), illustrating his ideas with practical instances of forest, watershed, and park management." --Earth Ethics
"This is a thoughtful and provocative book. I'd recommend this book for every teacher of environmental science or ecology. Students in advanced courses in ecology, environmental conservation, and environmental philosophy would also profit from the history of environmentalism and the vision of unification." --Ecology
"The book will be of general interest for a wide variety of readers: professionals and general readers, those studying environmental policy, and those simply having a general interest in it. A well-written book by an authority in the field." --Choice
"One of the few publications on the application of environmental ethics to policy and practice. No recent contribution by a philosopher is more directly related to land management professionals. Land management professionals should read this book because of its choice combination of themes: the 'environmentalists' dilemma,' land use policy examples, and environmental ethics worldviews." --Journal of the American Planning Association
"Bryan Norton is uniquely at home both in philosophical ethics and in contemporary ecological and policy debates. Both practically and metaphysically [the book] is a major contribution. Norton's extended discussions, which are grounded in turn in rich citations both of the current policy literature and of Norton's own interviews with many of the principles. One could profitably read the book just for these details. His reversal of the usual relation between
policy and principle remains extraordinarily important and provocative, and the optimism that this reversal makes possible is plausible and more than welcome." --Environmental Ethics
"A valuable addition to the literature of environmental ethics." --Hastings Center Report
"Already established as a mature theorist in the field, Bryan Norton has now produced a masterly treatment which deserves a wide audience. Norton's sensitive discussion rewards reading and re-reading as he clearly and systematically expounds the axioms and institutions underlying the various positions on environmental policy. If the area continues to attract writers as good as Norton, this is something to look forward to with relish." --Times Higher
Education Supplement
"There are good things to be found and, for non-post-modern readers, there are thoroughgoing chapters on Pollution Control, Biological Diversity, and Land Use Policy -- all related to the USA, but nevertheless of varying interest for the light shed on our own British and European problems." --New European
"Takes an interdisciplinary approach to environmental economics and environmental sociology from a philosophical perspective." --Environment
"Provides a clear example of how the skills of a good philosopher can contribute insight in the discussion of the foundations of policy. Norton has produced a masterly treatment which deserves a wide audience. Norton's sensitive discussion rewards reading and re-reading as he clearly and systematically expounds the axioms and institutions underlying the various positions on environmental policy. . . . clearly illustrated by case studies . . . handled in the
fair, and competent manner that his readers have come to expect. The final achievement is considerable." --Environmental Values
"Powerfully argued. . . . a thought provoking and accessible analysis. . . . it has much to offer environmentalists in this country who are seeking to understand and re-assess the values underpinning their work." --Peter Rawcliffe, ECOS, A Review of Conservation
