The Bartlett Faculty Climate Curriculum Working Group

Engaging Nature: Environmentalism and the Political Theory Canon

The Bartlett Faculty Climate Curriculum Working Group share "Engaging Nature: Environmentalism and the Political Theory Canon" published by MIT Press in 2015.

Cover of Engaging Nature: Environmentalism and the Political Theory Canon

An examination of the intersection between environmentalism and classical political theory

“Engaging Nature: Environmentalism and the Political Theory Canon” published by MIT Press in 2015, offers an examination of the intersection between environmentalism and classical political theory. Written by Peter F. Cannavò, Joseph H. Lane Jr., John Barry, Sheryl D. Breen, and Özgüç Orhan, this book delves into the implications of the environmental crisis on fundamental political concepts.

Individual essays cover classical figures in Western thought such as Aristotle, Hume, Rousseau, Mill, and Burke, but  also depart from the traditional canon to consider Mary Wollstonecraft, W. E. B. Du Bois, Hannah Arendt, and Confucius.

The essays provide original interpretations that challenge conventional readings of these thinkers. By exploring how these historical figures perceived the natural world and humanity’s relationship with it, the book sheds light on contemporary environmental challenges. The publucation serves as a vital resource for understanding the intricate connections between political theory and environmentalism, offering fresh perspectives on timeless questions about society, nature, and human agency.

Essays on the following as included in the publication: 

Plato, Aristotle, Niccolò Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke,  David Hume, Jean-Jacques Rousseau,  Edmund Burke, Mary Wollstonecraft, John Stuart Mill,  Karl Marx, W. E. B. Du Bois , Martin Heidegger, Hannah Arendt, Confucius

Contributors are:

Sheryl D. Breen, W. Scott Cameron, Peter F. Cannavò, Joel Jay Kassiola, Joseph H. Lane Jr. Timothy W. Luke, John M. Meyer, Özgüç Orhan, Barbara K. Seeber, Francisco Seijo, Kimberly K. Smith, Piers H. G. Stephens, Zev Trachtenberg, Andrew Valls, Harlan Wilson. 

 

WHO

This reference was recommended by the Bartlett Climate Curriculum Working Group.

The working group serves as a collaborative platform for staff, students, and professional services staff from the 13 institutes and departments within the Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment. Participation in the group is voluntary, with a focus on gathering recommendations for resources that explore the intersectional and multidisciplinary aspects of the climate emergency and social justice. Despite the global nature of the climate crisis, its social repercussions disproportionately affect marginalized communities, highlighting the urgent need for action. The list of recommended references is continuously expanding through collective efforts. Bartlett Alternative acknowledges and appreciates the Working Group’s ongoing dedication in promoting the sharing of diverse works and resources, by amplifying underrepresented voices, narratives, and agendas.

LIBRARY

A growing library of references recommended by staff and students across the Bartlett

view all

Share your references and work with us! Help shape our collective curriculum.

Get in touch!

FOLLOW UCL