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Ecofeminist Philosophy

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ECOFEMINIST PHILOSOPHY
A WESTERN PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT IT IS AND WHY IT MATTERS
By Karen J. Warren

A Review by Wendell G. Bradley

Warren calls herself a `street philosopher'. And, true to her calling, this professor of philosophy at Macalester College reaches the ordinary reader on important issues.

Ordinary philosophy is already superseded in chapter one entitled: `Nature is a Feminist Issue'. Women, world-wide, are shown to experience environmental harm disproportionately. And, they are organizing, as women, against related dominations.

For Warren, dominations tend to follow whenever (allegedly) ethically relevant hierarchies designate their `others' as inferiors. Subordinations, however, have to be first justified by `a logic of domination'. Humans, for example, might be deemed superior to nature because they have the ability to manipulate it. But, without a logic of domination, `superiority' could just as well lead to stewardship.

Patriarchy provides our current logic of domination. Under its conceptual framework, men become associated with reason and volition (read: intelligence and public roles). The result is a prevailing male-other bias that links women and nature--women too naturally something, to be allowed this or that. Accordingly, Warren recognizes both gender and ecology as good points of departure for an environmental ethic, hence ecofeminism.

Warren begins her `quilting' of an ecofeminist philosophy in chapter three. Here, she masterfully interrogates and reconceptualizes the reductive and essentialist rationality of today's male-other bias. Various belief examinations arise from the `cognitive dissonances' she brings to light in an examined patriarchy. At a minimum our loss of ecological integrity has required justification via a logic of domination. Our human spirit, however, can become caring enough to resist oppressions and destructions, especially in one's home place.

Accordingly, Warren introduces a `care-sensitive' ethic. It is characterized by a `loving eye' that focuses on a contextual orientation, a more optimistic understanding of self, an inclusivist ethical pluralism, incorporations of emotional intelligence, and a nonprivileging social justice. Through our spiritual ability to care, these qualities combine to make nature `morally deserving'. Thus, Warren's care-sensitive ethic makes a fundamental contribution to a possible ecological flourishing.

The idea of ecofeminism, itself, is not particularly new, but Warren's insights, clarifications and arguments are. Her overall philosophical synthesis is both refreshing and convincing.

Wendell G. Bradley, is a retired professor of Human Ecology and author of `The Gift of Morality'.

ECOFEMINIST PHILOSOPHY
A WESTERN PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT IT IS AND WHY IT MATTERS

By Karen J. Warren
Rowman and Littlefield, 230 pages
A Review by Wendell G. Bradley

Warren calls herself a street philosopher. And, true to her calling, this professor of philosophy at Macalester College reaches the ordinary reader on important issues.

Ordinary philosophy is already superseded in chapter one entitled: Nature is a Feminist Issue. Women, world-wide, are shown to experience environmental harm disproportionately. And, they are organizing, as women, against related dominations.

For Warren, dominations tend to follow whenever (allegedly) ethically relevant hierarchies designate their others as inferiors. Subordinations, however, have to be first justified by a logic of domination. Humans, for example, might be deemed superior to nature because they have the ability to manipulate it. But, without a logic of domination, superiority could just as well lead to stewardship.

Patriarchy provides our current logic of domination. Under its conceptual framework, men become associated with reason and volition (read: intelligence and public roles). The result is a prevailing male-other bias that links women and nature--women too naturally something, to be allowed this or that. Accordingly, Warren recognizes both gender and ecology as good points of departure for an environmental ethic, hence ecofeminism.

Warren begins her quilting of an ecofeminist philosophy in chapter three. Here, she masterfully interrogates and reconceptualizes the reductive and essentialist rationality of todays male-other bias. Various belief examinations arise from the cognitive dissonances she brings to light in an examined patriarchy. At a minimum our loss of ecological integrity has required justification via a logic of domination. Our human spirit, however, can become caring enough to resist oppressions and destructions, especially in ones home place.

Accordingly, Warren introduces a care-sensitive ethic. It is characterized by a loving eye that focuses on a contextual orientation, a more optimistic understanding of self, an inclusivist ethical pluralism, incorporations of emotional intelligence, and a nonprivileging social justice. Through our spiritual ability to care, these qualities combine to make nature morally deserving. Thus, Warrens care-sensitive ethic makes a fundamental contribution to a possible ecological flourishing.

The idea of ecofeminism, itself, is not particularly new, but Warrens insights, clarifications and arguments are. Her overall philosophical synthesis is both refreshing and convincing.

Wendell G. Bradley, is a retired professor of Human Ecology and author of The Gift of Morality . He lives in Colorado.

One of my most favorite books ever! Dr. Warren gave the great examples esp. when she addressed about her feeling while rock climbing and the connection with nature. I could picture it deeply. I felt peaceful and appreciated. Thank you for the excellent piece of work.

I am totally new to this "ism." Thus, I find this book can offer a good review about ecofeminism.

I read this book for the Jan/Feb 2004 LD Topic: "A government's obligation to protect the environment ought to have precedence over its obligation to promote economic development." I have to say I highly reccomend this book to anyone interested in the connections between the environment and feminism. I especially liked the discussion of how women and the environment are connected through language through the use of word's like "Mother Nature." That use in particular was to put it in a word pimp. Warren covers all areas of ecofeminist thought, and is extremely fair to those critical of ecofeminism. To anyone interested in learning about how our domination of the environment undergirds our domination of other groups this book is perfect. As I said before, this work by a "street philosopher," is simply pimp. Highest recomendations!