Finding - and Failing to Find - Meaning in Nature

James, Simon P.

doi:10.3197/096327113x13745164553833

Finding - and Failing to Find - Meaning in Nature

James, Simon P.

Authors

Professor Simon James s.p.james@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Abstract

This paper is about how we should evaluate our tendencies to find - or fail to find - different meanings in the natural world. It has three aims: (1) to show that some virtues and vices can be exhibited in our tendencies to find or to overlook the meanings of natural things, even if it is unclear whether any can only be exhibited in our relations with such things; (2) to categorise some of the relevant virtues and vices; and (3) to refute the objection that meaning-focused approaches to environmental philosophy, of the sort adopted by writers such as Alan Holland and myself, cannot adequately account for nature's independence from human concerns.

Citation

James, S. P. (2013). Finding - and Failing to Find - Meaning in Nature. Environmental Values, 22(5), 609-625. https://doi.org/10.3197/096327113x13745164553833

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	May 23, 2012
Publication Date	Oct 1, 2013
Deposit Date	Jun 1, 2012
Publicly Available Date	Feb 4, 2016
Journal	Environmental Values
Print ISSN	0963-2719
Electronic ISSN	1752-7015
Publisher	White Horse Press
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	22
Issue	5
Pages	609-625
DOI	https://doi.org/10.3197/096327113x13745164553833
Keywords	Nature, Virtue theory, Meaning, Anthropocentrism, Aesthetics.

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Copyright Statement
© 2013 The White Horse Press. This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted following peer review for publication in Environmental values, 22(5), 609-625. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online, doi: 10.3197/096327113X13745164553833