1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910459253303321

Autore

O'Brien Kevin J

Titolo

An ethics of biodiversity [[electronic resource] ] : Christianity, ecology, and the variety of life / / Kevin J. O'Brien

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Washington, D.C., : Georgetown University Press, 2010

ISBN

1-58901-664-5

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (240 p.)

Disciplina

261.8/8

Soggetti

Human ecology - Religious aspects - Christianity

Biodiversity

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Introduction: Christian ecological ethics and biodiversity -- Defining biodiversity -- The variety of life -- Why biodiversity matters -- Valuing life and ecosystems -- The sacramental value of the variety of life -- The levels of biodiversity -- Scaling conservation -- Multiscalar Christian ecological ethics -- Political and morally formative conservation -- Regulating biodiversity : the endangered species act and political conservation -- Christian care for biodiversity : moral formation as conservation -- Social justice and the conservation of biodiversity -- Biological and cultural diversity -- Diversities and justice -- Conclusion: the work of conserving biodiversity.

Sommario/riassunto

Life on earth is wildly diverse, but the future of that diversity is now in question. Through environmentally destructive farming practices, ever-expanding energy use, and the development and homogenization of land, human beings are responsible for unprecedented reductions in the variety of life forms around us. Estimates suggest that species extinctions caused by humans occur at up to 1,000 times the natural rate, and that one of every twenty species on the planet could be eradicated by 2060.An Ethics of Biodiversity argues that these facts should inspire careful reflection and action in Chri