The Philosophy of Ecology - From Science to Synthesis

This is the first introductory anthology on the philosophy of ecology edited by an ecologist and a philosopher. It illustrates the range of philosophical approaches available to ecologists and provides a basis for understanding the thinking on which many of today's environmental ideas are founded. Collectively, these seminal readings make a powerful statement on the value of ecological knowledge and thinking in alleviating the many problems of modern industrial civilization. Issues covered include:the challenges of defining scientific ecology, tracing its genealogy, and distinguishing the science from various forms of "ecological-like" thinkingthe ontology of ecological entities and processesselected concepts of community, stability, diversity, and nichethe methodology of ecology (rationalism and empiricism, reductionism and holism)the significance of evolutionary law for ecological science