Infinite Nature

In his dense, intensely thought-provoking book, professor of natural resources Hull proposes a fair, rational dialogue between resource preservationists and resource consumers. He wants readers to consider the role of nature in their lives beyond simple resource exploitation and, through this, plot a strategy for integrating economic development with conservation and social justice in ways that are both politically and economically feasible. He also wants readers to think about how we define nature; Hull says there are many natures and we must define what we mean when we discuss them. Thus, in successive chapters, he covers topics such as American colonialism and industrialization, the role nature plays in human health, the social injustice of exporting pollution, the conflicts between religious perceptions of the natural order and ecological reality, the arguments on the natural/unnatural state of humanity, the aesthetic value of the natural world, and the historical development of natural philosophy. Hull cites often the philosophy of Aldo Leopold, actively incorporating the principle that a healthy humanity requires a healthy nature. A handbook for understanding natural resource conflicts and finding solutions for both inherited problems and the ones we are currently creating, Hull's work is comprehensive, informative, and richly rewarding.