Book Summary of Ecology, Policy and Politics: Human Well-Being and the Natural World by John O'Neill

Ecology, Policy and Politics: Human Well-Being and the Natural World, John O'Neill, (New York: Routledge, 1993), 219pp.

Ecology, Policy and Politics: Human Well-Being and the Natural World is a philosophical examination of what the author proposes to be an adequate foundation for policy- making and political decisions about environmental issues. The author argues for a relationship between the intrinsic value of the natural world and human well-being.

Ecology, Policy and Politics: Human Well-Being and the Natural World is required reading for PHIL 5140 as taught by Professor Dale Jamieson. This work will be of interest to those who find market approaches alone an inadequate basis for policy-making decisions. The author offers pluralism and human well-being as additional bases upon which to found policy- making decisions about the environment. O'Neill begins with a discussion of the relationship between human well-being and the natural world. He examines: the varieties of intrinsic value, relational and non-relational properties, objective value and the natural world, and the relationship between intrinsic value and human well-being. From this beginning O'Neill proceeds to the consideration of: future generations and present harms, and the temporally local perspective in relation to both hedonism and the market.

O'Neill next identifies the stakeholders in environmental policy. He expands the usual list to include both non-humans and future generations. In the former context O'Neill considers cost-benefit analysis and in the latter context he considers discounting. He then offers a philosophical examination of the possible justifications of cost-benefit analysis. The next two chapters are devoted to the discussion of pluralism and the inter-relationship among: liberalism, the good life, incommensurability and judgment. Aristotle, the good-life and self- sufficiency are examined as well as Mill and the classical conception of politics. Pluralism in the: description and appraisal of environmental values precedes an examination of cost-benefit analysis and incommensurability.

In a discussion of democracy, authority and the environment O'Neill addresses the presumption that we desire rational authority when what we may actually desire is competent authority. Within this discussion he addresses: two forms of, two problems with and the limitations of, authority. O'Neill considers science as a basis for policy-making decisions and finds that while necessary it is not sufficient. Finally, he considers the inter-relationships between: the household, politics and market and non-market associations. A compact but comprehensive bibliography follows the text to the advantage of the reader.

Ecology, Policy and Politics: Human Well-Being and the Natural World, offers multiple justifications which must be incorporated into the foundation upon which policy-making and political decisions about the environment are made. The arguments O'Neill offers are both intuitively appealing and sound.