culture

Laura Westra argues that even if we could elicit a truly informed and “free” choice, the “Contingent Valuation” method would remain flawed.

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.

Anne K. Johnson tests the claims of cultural theory using the formation of climate change policies in Sweden, the United States, and Japan as case studies.

Daniel Holbrook discusses two principles often found in environmental ethics—self-realization and environmental preservation—as two logically independent principles.

Wilfred Beckerman and Joanna Pasek discuss criticisms of contingent valuation (CV) and allied techniques for estimating the intensity of peoples’ preferences for the environment, concluding that little progress will be made until both sides in the debate recognise what is valid in their opponents’ arguments.

Onora O’Neill discusses environmental values and anthropocentrism and speciesism, with reference to obligation-based reasoning.

I.G. Simmons examines the basic thesis that environmental values must spring from the economic relations of human societies.

Richard B. Harris discusses China’s policies in wildlife conservation, particularly with regard to endangered species to suggest that Western criticisms of Chinese utilitarian attitudes are inappropriate, ineffective, and possibly counter-productive.

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