Respect for Nature

This is an excellent book. It is comprehensive, with regard not only to our proper treatment of other animals but to all life, ranging from human life to plant life. In other words, it offers a complete ethics. And contrary to the preceding review, Taylor's view is not at all "anthropocentric." Quite the contrary: it is life itself that takes center stage, with humans finding their place in the total biosphere. The book is also thorough and utterly rigorous in its argumentation. To me this is a virtue since, like Taylor, I am an analytic philosopher. To the average reader this could be a drawback; I cannot in good faith therefore recommend this book to someone who is not acquainted with or does not enjoy the rigors of academic philosophic thinking. But for someone who does, I can think of no better book on the subject of an ethics that gives due consideration to nonhumans. There were passages in this book which, despite my already favorable view of a biocentric ethics, transformed my very being with new and broader understanding and conviction.

A good through book on environmental ethics. Taylor has outlined his anthropocentric view of environmental ethics. He has been complete and thorough in discussing quite a few key issues and in answering possible problems with his theory. A good all-encompassing theory that is much needed in environmental philosophy.