Originally published in 1984, The Roots of Modern Environmentalism provides a historical, philosophical and ideological background to environmentalism. Topics covered include, the roots of technological environmentalism, the medieval cosmology and Bacon’s philosophy, the non-scientific roots of ecological environmentalism, such as Romanticism and its scientific roots in the theories of Malthus and Darwin. The Marxist perspective on Nature is also discussed. The concluding chapter is a criticism of education which challenges its usefulness as an agent of socio-economic change. This book will be of interest to academics and students of environmentalism and geography.
List of Figures
Foreword and Acknowledgements
Preface: On Why History and Philosophy Matter
1 Modern Environmentalism
2. The Roots of Technological Environmentalism
3. The Non-Scientific Roots of Ecological Environmentalism
4. The Scientific Roots of Ecological Environmentalism
5. Science of Objectivity
6. The Marxist Perspective on Nature and Environmentalism
7. The Political Roots of Ecological Environmentalism
8. Conclusion: Is Education the Greatest Resource?
References
Appendix: Glossary of Terms
Index
Biography
David Pepper
