Ben A. Minteer criticises the tendency in environmental ethics to demonstrate a preference for foundationalist approaches in the theoretical justification of environmentalism. He argues for a more contextual, social, and pragmatic approach.

Carrie L. Hull discusses debates taking place among environmental scientists, providing a brief overview of the history of the formalist tendency in philosophy, and an illustration of the ways in which advocates of a strict laboratory methodology implicitly rely on this foundation.

Maurie J. Cohen introduces this special issue of Environmental Values.

Robin Grove-White writes an afterword on this special issue of Environmental Values.