An on line discussion of books that have been or are currently being read by members of the Audubon Naturalist Society Conservation Philosophy Reading Group. We choose books, old and new, that collectively constitute the intellectual underpinnings of conservation philosophy.
. . . one of England's greatest nature writers. He is author of some thirty books including Nature Cure which was shortlisted for the Whitbread, Ondaatje and Ackerley Awards -- goodreads.com
On p.108, James Lovelock (of Gaia Hypothesis fame) is quoted as saying “Employed by the earth; yes I like that.” It was Lovelocks response to Mabey's mention of Lewis Thomas's vision of humankind's role as a kind of handyman for the planet. Mabey goes on to discuss the increasingly popular concept of humankind as stewards of the planet. The problem with 'stewardship", says Mabey, is that "it subtly reframes the object in need of custody as the nonhuman world, when perhaps it should be ourselves." As he points out, "a steward is another party's agent and just who we are stewards for is not always clear." A member of the Evangelical Environmental Network would probably say God. Others might say "humanity, our children, 'posterity', but rarely nature itself." It seems that Lovelock has the right idea. Why not go to work for, perhaps even become disciples of Gaia, Mother Earth, Pachamama, whatever name you choose to represent the superorganism to which we and all living beings belong?
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On p.108, James Lovelock (of Gaia Hypothesis fame) is quoted as saying “Employed by the earth; yes I like that.” It was Lovelocks response to Mabey's mention of Lewis Thomas's vision of humankind's role as a kind of handyman for the planet. Mabey goes on to discuss the increasingly popular concept of humankind as stewards of the planet. The problem with 'stewardship", says Mabey, is that "it subtly reframes the object in need of custody as the nonhuman world, when perhaps it should be ourselves." As he points out, "a steward is another party's agent and just who we are stewards for is not always clear." A member of the Evangelical Environmental Network would probably say God. Others might say "humanity, our children, 'posterity', but rarely nature itself." It seems that Lovelock has the right idea. Why not go to work for, perhaps even become disciples of Gaia, Mother Earth, Pachamama, whatever name you choose to represent the superorganism to which we and all living beings belong?
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