Why this book?
- To become acquainted with the relationship between religion and environmental ethics in a systematic and philosophical format.
- To understand the idea of 'overlapping consensus' in one of the important issues of applied ethics.
- To compare the perspectives of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam on nature.
- To learn about the theory of respect for nature and the critiques leveled against it.
- For readers interested in ethics, religion, and the environmental crisis.
About the book
The book 'Religion and Environmental Ethics' is a study of the relationship between religious ethics and extra-religious ethics in the realm of the environment. The central question of the book is whether it is possible to reach an agreement on the moral responsibility of humans towards nature, animals, and living beings that is meaningful both for the religious and for secular or extra-religious ethics.
The book begins by defining key concepts such as environment, environmental ethics, religion, and overlapping consensus. It then classifies major theories of environmental ethics based on the locus of value and the criterion of moral evaluation, and specifically explains and critiques the theory of 'respect for nature'.
In subsequent sections, the authors examine existing perspectives on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in relation to the environment. On one hand, they address critiques that have held Abrahamic religions responsible for the environmental crisis, and on the other, they demonstrate the internal capacities of religious traditions to support nature.