{"product_id":"the-ideal-of-nature-gregory-e-kaebnick-9780801898884","title":"The Ideal of Nature: Debates about Biotechnology and the Environment","description":"\u003cp\u003eGoing back at least to the writings of John Stuart Mill and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, people have argued for and against maintaining a state of nature. Is there an inherent virtue in leaving alone a naturally occurring condition, or does the human species thrive when we find ways to improve our circumstances? This volume probes whether \"nature\" and \"the natural\" are capable of guiding moral deliberations in policy making.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDrawing on philosophy, religion, and political science, this book examines three questions central to debates over the idea of \"nature\" in human action. Conceptually, it asks what the term means, how it should be considered, and if it is, even in part, a social construct. From a moral perspective, the contributors question if being \"natural\" is itself of value or if its worth is only as a means to advance other morally acceptable ends. Politically, essays discuss whether appeals to nature can and should affect public policy and, if so, whether they are moral trump cards or should instead be fitted alongside or weighed against other concerns. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAchieving consensus on these questions has proven elusive and seems unattainable. This should not, however, be an obstacle to moving the debate forward. By bringing together disparate approaches to addressing these concepts, \u003ci\u003eThe Ideal of Nature\u003c\/i\u003e suggests the possibility of intermediate positions that move beyond the usual full-throated defense and blanket dismissal found in much of the debate. Scholars of bioethics, environmental philosophy, religious studies, sociology, public policy, and political theory will find much merit in this book's lively discussion.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Gregory E. Kaebnick\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0801898889\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780801898884\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Johns Hopkins University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/02\/2011\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 232\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.00lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.80h x 6.20w x 0.90d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 11\/01\/2011","brand":"Gregory E. Kaebnick","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":44540342042879,"sku":"9780801898884","price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_29e5b481-50a0-48bb-b55d-7a3f971d42ed.jpg?v=1700587362","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-ideal-of-nature-gregory-e-kaebnick-9780801898884","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}