In Nature's Interests?: Interests, Animal Rights, and Environmental Ethics(Environmental Ethics and Science Policy Series)

This book offers a powerful response to what Varner calls the "two dogmas of environmental ethics"--the assumptions that animal rights philosophies and anthropocentric views are each antithetical to sound environmental policy. Allowing that every living organism has interests which ought, other things being equal, to be protected, Varner contends that some interests take priority over others. He defends both a sentientist principle giving priority to the lives of organisms with conscious desires and an anthropocentric principle giving priority to certain very inclusive interests which only humans have. He then shows that these principles not only comport with but provide significant support for environmental goals.

Review :
"This is a gritty and challenging text: it marks out a distinctive philosophical position that merits serious attention by environmentalists and animal rights supporters alike."--Animal Welfare "In Nature's Interests? provides a valuable addition to the literature on moral considerability. Varner is a must-read for any serious environmental philosopher, and this book would be a welcome addition to any graduate seminar in the field. At the same time, however, the book is accessible to nonacademics with a serious interest in the subject since Varner's creative examples...and clear writing provide an excellent complement to his scholarship."--Ethics and the Environment "All libraries supporting curricula in environmental ethics should own it....Varner knows his field, including the relevant literature, and argues using logic and the tools of philosophers. He examines opposing views fairly. He also knows his biology well. Well written and mercifully short."--Choice "The book is a pleasure to read. The author is unduly influenced neither by radical nor conservative environmentalist camps. He has a mind of his own."--Environmental Ethics "This is a brave and ambitious book. It is densely argued and beautifully written."--The Philosophical Review "This is a gritty and challenging text: it marks out a distinctive philosophical position that merits serious attention by environmentalists and animal rights supporters alike."--Animal Welfare "In Nature's Interests? provides a valuable addition to the literature on moral considerability. Varner is a must-read for any serious environmental philosopher, and this book would be a welcome addition to any graduate seminar in the field. At the same time, however, the book is accessible to nonacademics with a serious interest in the subject since Varner's creative examples...and clear writing provide an excellent complement to his scholarship."--Ethics and the Environment "All libraries supporting curricula in environmental ethics should own it....Varner knows his field, including the relevant literature, and argues using logic and the tools of philosophers. He examines opposing views fairly. He also knows his biology well. Well written and mercifully short."--Choice "The book is a pleasure to read. The author is unduly influenced neither by radical nor conservative environmentalist camps. He has a mind of his own."--Environmental Ethics "This is a brave and ambitious book. It is densely argued and beautifully written."--The Philosophical Review "Varner's attempt to answer the question, "Can animal rights activists be environmentalists?" in the affirmative contributes to a debate of increasing importance...Varner's sophisticated contributions to an Apollonian answer will repay the attention of all who have an interest in the deeper dilemmas, both theoretical and practical, of environmental ethics."--Ethics