Moran

People and Nature: An Introduction to Human Ecological Relations

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Evidence of climate change, loss of biological diversity, tropical deforestation, and an impending crisis in potable water prompt the question: how have we created a situation where our planet--our very future--is at risk? In People and Nature: An Introduction to Human Ecological Relations, noted environmental scientist Emilio Moran provides a lively introduction to ecological anthropology, environmental geography, and human ecology. He examines the evolving relations between human communities and nature, and, by thoughtful analysis, offers a vision of what we must do to have a future worth living.

Produktdetails

• Blackwell Primers in Anthropol
• Verlag: Wiley
• Revised
• Seitenzahl: 218
• Erscheinungstermin: Januar 2006
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 240mm x 161mm x 17mm
• Gewicht: 525g
• ISBN-13: 9781405105712
• ISBN-10: 1405105712
• Artikelnr.: 21071299

Autorenporträt

Emilio F. Moran is Rudy Professor of Anthropology at Indiana University and also Professor of Environmental Sciences, Adjunct Professor of Geography, and Director of the Anthropological Center for Training and Research on Global Environmental Change.

Inhaltsangabe

Preface.

List of Figures.

1. Human Agency and the State of the Earth.

Introduction.

Can one conceive of ecosystems without human agents?.

Human agency: individuals making a difference.

Overwhelming evidence for concern with the condition of theearth system.

Looking back and looking forward.

2. A Reminder: How Things Were.

The study of human ecological relations.

The contemporary study of environmental issues.

The evolution of human-environment interactions.

Hunter-gatherers: Setting our preferences.

How did we decide to become farmers?.

Herding and farming: An uneasy relationship.

More food for the masses.

3. The Great Forgetting.

Earth Transformations in prehistory.

The archeology of environmental change.

The urban-industrial revolution and the unleashing ofPrometheus.

The contemporary situation: Human-dominated ecosystems.

4. The Web of Life: Are We in It?.

The web of life and trophic relations: Thinkingecologically.

Ecosystem productivity and net primary production.

Land Use and long-term disturbance.

5. What Makes People Want to Change the Environment?.

Learning, Adaptation, and Information.

Mitigation and the Cautionary Principle.

Transforming the face of the earth through making betterdecisions.

Population and the Environment.

6. Rebuilding Communities and Institutions.

Community in human evolution.

What is sacred in human evolution?.

Tragedies of the commons.

Institutions and self-organization.

Bioregionalism, deep ecology and embedding people in nature.

7. Can We Learn When We Have Enough?.

Material boys and material girls.

Patterns of consumption in developed countries.

Patterns of consumption in developing countries.

A feeding frenzy and a crisis in public health.

Burning fossils fuels instead of calories.

Do we have enough material goods now?.

8. Quality of Life: When Less Is More.

Resource abundance vs resource scarcity.

When less is more.

The scale of the problem and the scale of the solutions.

Restoring Our Balance: Valuing community, and trust, rather thanmore "stuff".

Are we happier when we have more?.

References.

Index

Rezensionen

"The book offers a lively and well-researched introduction tohuman-environmental problems and ways of analysing them, drawingcreatively on a range of scientific approaches ... .Athoughtful and engaging text, which students of environmentalanthropology, human geography, and environmental studies will findilluminating." (Journal of the Royal AnthropologicalInstitute, December 2008)

"An anthropological reader on social movements is a welcomecontribution to a synthesis and analysis of this interest." (TheJournal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, June 2008)

"The aim [of the book] ... Is to offer a lively overview ona traditional area of anthropological study, an aim which Moran'sbook no doubt accomplishes." (European Association of SocialAnthropologists, 2007)

"Moran...provides a primer of the field for beginning students,covering current environmental problems from an anthropologicalperspective and looking to hunter-gatherers, early farmers, andother ancient and traditional peoples for comparison. Students canlearn what they can do to make the world simpler and better.Recommended for libraries serving high school and undergraduatestudents, and anyone interested in living more wisely."(Choice)

"Those among us who would like to better understand theintricate interaction between knowledge on environmental issues andsocietal reactions will most definitely profit from this littlebook, which can be whole heartedly recommended." (EnvironmentalGeology)

"The major themes of People and Nature provide a menurich enough to satisfy any beginning student of ecologicalanthropology." (BioScience)

"People and Nature is the first volume published withinthe series titled Primers in Anthropology. The aim of theseries is to offer a lively overview on a traditional area ofanthropological study, an aim which Moran's book no doubtaccomplishes." (Journal of Social Anthropology)"We need more books like this! Moran provides a wonderfullyaccessible and compelling introduction to the greatest issue of ourtimes. This book is required reading to understand theall-too-human dimension of the environmental crisis and why thereis real hope for recovery."
-Tom Lovejoy, The H. John Heinz III Center for Science,Economics and the Environment

"Vintage Emilio Moran! A highly readable, well groundedand insightful stock- taking of human environmentalrelations--a perspective that will be highly valued by bothstudents and others concerned with an enlightened view of how ourspecies manages or mismanages its habitat."
-Daniel G. Bates, Hunter College, CUNY, and Editor, HumanEcology

"In this original and thoughtful book, Moran leads readersfrom the past history of human interactions with natural ecosystemsthrough the present crisis of environmental sustainability and intothe future, noting serious challenges, and positive trends aswell."
-Ben Orlove, University of California Davis, and Editor,Current Anthropology