Biodiversity and Democracy: Rethinking Society and NatureThe world's species, genes, and ecosystems are going extinct at an alarming and unprecedented rate, largely as a result of human activities. If this trend continues, human civilization itself is at risk. Yet we remain either unaware or unconcerned. In Biodiversity and Democracy, Paul Wood looks at this dilemma from another perspective. He argues that the problem can be traced back to how we think about both biodiversity and democratic societies. He examines the concept of biodiversity, recasting it as an essential environmental condition that is being irreversibly depleted, not a biological resource that can simply be replaced. He then demonstrates how democratic policies cater to short-term public preferences, with little or no concern for the long term. |
Contents
An Environmental Condition | 35 |
Utility Maximization | 85 |
Economic Efficiency | 107 |
Consensus among Stakeholders | 123 |
The Costs of Biodiversity Conservation | 177 |
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Common terms and phrases
argues argument assumed benefits biocentric biodiver biodiversity conservation biodiversity depletion biodiversity-depleting biological entities biological resources Canada Chapter claim consensus-based negotiation Consequently conservation biology conservation of biodiversity conserve biodiversity constraints cost-benefit analysis criteria criterion defined democracy deplete biodiversity differences among biological discussed distinction distribution Dworkin economic efficiency economic theory ecosys ecosystems empirical ensure environmental equal ethical example exclusionary reason forest land-use decisions future persons genes genetic diversity habitat harm principle human individual interests of future intergenerational issue justified liberal democracy Lockean proviso maximin maximum sustained yield means minimum viable population moral natural neoclassical economic theory normative Nozick opportunity costs options original position political decisions populations practical reasoning preference utilitarianism principles of justice priority priority-of-biodiversity principle problem property rights protected areas public interest rational Rawls Rawls's rule simply social suggests sustained yield Theory of Justice tion utilitarianism utility maximization values of biodiversity welfare