In the Light of Humane Nature : Human Values, Nature, the Green Economy, and Environmental Salvation

In the Light of Humane Nature describes the underlying, causal roots of our environmental problems and offers a conceptual solution to them. It argues that what causes these problems and stymies resolution ultimately relates to human values and attitudes toward the world around us, including other humans, other species, and nature as a whole. Readers are taken through key events in the modern environmental movement, and particularly the recent greening of the economy, focusing on the author’s own experiences and demonstrating both the promise and the shortfall in our efforts to become a more sustainable society. Finally it presents the changes needed in our moral and aesthetic outlook to connect with the highest human values in order to achieve a sustainable and humane world.

Despite significant progress in recent decades, the environmental crisis is far from over. We know what needs to change, but we don’t seem to know—economically, politically, or socially—how to stop the juggernaut of destructive development and resource depletion. Something continues to undermine our efforts to become a truly sustainable society.

In the Light of Humane Nature highlights the positive accomplishments we have made recently in greening the economy and also exposes the underlying causes for our continued march toward disaster. A seasoned environmental professional, Arthur Weissman argues that what causes our environmental problems and stymies solutions ultimately relates to human values and our attitudes toward the world around us, including other humans, other species, and nature as a whole.

He provides a twist on the usual environmental critique of society by demonstrating that we will attain our true relationship to nature only when we embrace the highest human values. When our moral and aesthetic values become all-encompassing and not just self-serving, we will indeed be part of nature and not apart from it. Through this engaging work he encourages all of us to live up to our highest human (and humane) ideals so that we may solve our environmental and social problems and become better human beings in the process.

In the Light of Humane Nature weaves personal narrative and autobiographical detail with professional and philosophical discussion to describe the growth of the green economy movement and what it still lacks. Throughout the discussion Weissman sticks to essential concepts all can comprehend, and he concludes with a contemporary solution and appeal to the younger generation.