| Description |
1 online resource (x, 182 pages) : illustrations |
|
text file |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 159-172) and index. |
| Summary |
As the full effects of human activity on Earth's life-support systems are revealed by science, the question of whether we can change, fundamentally, our relationship with nature becomes increasingly urgent. Just as important as an understanding of our environment, is an understanding of ourselves, of the kinds of beings we are and why we act as we do. In Loving Nature Kay Milton considers why some people in western societies grow up to be nature lovers, actively concerned about the welfare and future of plants, animals, ecosystems and nature in general, while others seem indifferent or intent on destroying these things. Drawing on findings and ideas from anthropology, psychology, cognitive science and philosophy, the author discusses how we come to understand nature as we do, and above all, how we develop emotional commitments to it. Anthropologists, in recent years, have tended to suggest that our understanding of the world is shaped solely by the culture in which we live. Controversially Kay Milton argues that it is shaped by direct experience in which emotion plays an essential role.; The author argues that the conventional opposition between emotion and rationality in western culture is a myth. The effect of this myth has been to support a market economy which systematically destroys nature, and to exclude from public decision making the kinds of emotional attachments that support more environmentally sensative ways of living. A better understanding of ourselves, as fundamentally emotional beings, could give such ways of living the respect they need. |
| Contents |
1. Science and religion. Science, religion and nature protection. Science, religion and magic. Science, religion and common sense. The natural and the unnatural. The personal and the impersonal. The emotional and the rational. The way forward -- 2. The naturalness of ideas. Persons, non-persons and nature protection. Representations, metaphors and knowledge. Personhood as a natural idea. Innate learning mechanisms. Persons and the theory of mind. An assessment -- 3. Knowing nature through experience. Experience and constructionism. Perception and knowledge. Perceiving persons. Getting to know nature -- 4. Enjoying nature. Conservation and the enjoyment of nature. The naturalness of emotion. Biophilia and domain-specific emotions. Enjoying nature through experience. Emotion, perception and memory. Emotion and self-perception. Emotions in their social setting. Learning to enjoy nature -- 5. Identifying with nature. Identification and deep ecology. Identification and identity: Part 1. Other bases of identification. Emotions, feelings and consciousness. Emotions, personhood and identification. Identification and self-realization. Personhood and the enjoyment of nature. Identification and identity: Part 2 -- 6. Valuing nature: meaning, emotion and the sacred. Value in anthropology, psychology and philosophy. Value and meaning. Meaning and emotion. Emotion and the sacred. Sacredness, identity and self-realization -- 7. Protecting nature: wildness, diversity and personhood. Protecting nature's independence. Protecting diversity and personhood in nature. Diversity and personhood and harmony. Diversity and personhood in conflict -- 8. Protecting nature: science and the sacred. Emotion and rationality. Emotion, rationality and capitalism. Science and scenery. A tale of two mountains. |
| Local Note |
eBooks on EBSCOhost EBSCO eBook Subscription Academic Collection - North America |
| Subject |
Environmental psychology.
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Environmental psychology. |
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Nature -- Psychological aspects.
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Nature -- Psychological aspects. |
| Genre/Form |
Electronic books.
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Electronic books.
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| Other Form: |
Print version: Milton, Kay, 1951- Loving nature. London ; New York : Routledge, 2002 0415253535 (DLC) 2001045731 (OCoLC)47838063 |
| ISBN |
0203421418 (ebook) |
|
9780203421413 (ebook) |
|
0585459274 (electronic book) |
|
9780585459271 (electronic book) |
|
9780415253536 (cased) |
|
0415253535 (cased) |
|
9780415253543 (paperback) |
|
0415253543 (paperback) |
|
1280403187 |
|
9781280403187 |
|
9786610403189 |
|
661040318X |
|
0415253535 (hardback) |
|
0415253543 (paperback) |
| Standard No. |
99808578275 |
|
