The Presence of Nature: A Study in Phenomenology and Environmental Philosophy

James, Simon

The Presence of Nature: A Study in Phenomenology and Environmental Philosophy

James, Simon

Authors

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

Abstract

What is 'nature'? In what sense are humans parts of it? And why, if at all, should we strive to conserve it? Environmental issues raise a host of fascinating philosophical questions. Yet all too often these questions are tackled in an overly abstract way, one that fails to account for what it is like to experience the natural world. The Presence of Nature takes a different approach. Drawing on the philosophical tradition of phenomenology as well as a number of literary sources, Simon James takes a refreshingly new perspective on a range of topics, including animal consciousness, the moral imperative to conserve nature and the view that the natural world exists independently of human concerns. In so doing, he develops an original approach to environmental philosophy, one that takes seriously the various ways we encounter the natural world in the living of our lives.

Citation

James, S. (2009). The Presence of Nature: A Study in Phenomenology and Environmental Philosophy. (1). Palgrave Macmillan

Book Type	Authored Book
Publication Date	Nov 1, 2009
Deposit Date	Dec 9, 2009
Publicly Available Date	Feb 1, 2010
Publisher	Palgrave Macmillan
Edition	1
Publisher URL	http://www.palgrave.com/products/title.aspx?PID=311807

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Copyright Statement
Simon P. James, ‘Introduction’ from The Presence of Nature: A Study in Phenomenology and Environmental Philosophy (2009, Palgrave Macmillan), reproduced with permission of Palgrave Macmillan

This extract is taken from the author’s original manuscript and has not been edited. The definitive version of this piece may be found in The Presence of Nature, by Simon P. James which can be purchased from www.palgrave.com