Finding - and Failing to Find - Meaning in Nature

James, Simon P.

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.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1476429