The Idea of Biodiversity analyzes what biodiversity represents to the biologists who operate in broader society on its behalf, drawing on in-depth interviews with the scientists most active today in the mission to preserve biodiversity, including Peter Raven, Thomas Lovejoy, Jane Lubchenco, and Paul...

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Bibliographic Details

Main Author:	Takacs, David (Author)
Format:	Book
Language:	English
Published:	Baltimore [u.a.] Johns Hopkins Univ. Press 1996
Subjects:	Biodiversiteit Biodiversité - Conservation - Philosophie Diversité biologique - Philosophie Philosophie Biodiversity conservation > Philosophy Artenreichtum Wissenschaftstheorie Biologie
Summary:	The Idea of Biodiversity analyzes what biodiversity represents to the biologists who operate in broader society on its behalf, drawing on in-depth interviews with the scientists most active today in the mission to preserve biodiversity, including Peter Raven, Thomas Lovejoy, Jane Lubchenco, and Paul Ehrlich. Takacs explores how and why these biologists shaped the concept of biodiversity and promoted it to society at large - examining their definitions of biodiversity; their opinions about spirituality and its role in scientific work; the notion of biodiversity as something of intrinsic value; and their views on biophilia, E. O. Wilson's idea that humans are genetically pre-disposed to love nature. Takacs also looks at the work of twentieth-century forerunners of today's conservation biologists - Aldo Leopold, Charles S. Elton, Rachel Carson, David Ehrenfeld - and points out their contributions to the current debates. He takes readers to Costa Rica, where a group of scientists is using biodiversity to remake nature and society. And in an extended section, he profiles the thoughts and work of E. O. Wilson.
Physical Description:	XIX, 393 S.
ISBN:	0801854008