Animals and Nature

Cultural Myths, Cultural Realities

By Rod Preece
Categories: Environmental & Nature Studies, Animal Studies
Publisher: UBC Press
Hardcover : 9780774807241, 336 pages, May 1999
Paperback : 9780774807258, 336 pages, October 2005
Ebook (PDF) : 9780774852203, 336 pages, October 2007

Table of contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction: The Denigration of the West

1 Advocacy Scholarship

2 “Beastliness” and “Brutality”

3 Animals All?

4 Rationalism

5 Alienation from Nature

6 From the Great Chain of Being to the Theory of Evolution

7 Aboriginal and Oriental Harmony with Nature

8 Gaea and the Universal Spirit

Notes

Select Bibliography

Index

Description

“No one tradition alone offers a sufficient respect for other species. Taken together, they may offer a prospect for saner human-animal relations.” – From the book

Western conceptions of objectivity and individuality have resulted in a readier appreciation of the worth of the animals and nature than has been recognized. This provocative book takes issue with the popular view that the Western cultural tradition, in contrast to Eastern and Aboriginal traditions, has encouraged attitudes of domination and exploitation towards nature, particularly animals.

Preece argues that the Western tradition has much to commend it, and that descriptions of Aboriginal and Oriental orientations have often been misleadingly rosy, simplified and codified according to current fashionable concepts.

Animals and Nature is the result of six years’ intensive study into comparative religion, literature, philosophy, anthropology, mythology and animal welfare science.

Awards

  • Winner, Outstanding Academic Title, Choice Magazine 2000
  • Short-listed, Raymond Klibansky Prize, Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences 2002

Reviews

A new and surprising religious target, native Indian spirituality, is discovered in this groundbreaking book by Rod Preece.

- Douglas Todd

Preece is a scholar of enormous intellect who makes the long-overdue case that western civilization need look no further than its own myths and traditions to justify the ethical treatment of animals.

- Terry Glavin

No previous book offers nearly the breadth of Preece's erudite multidisciplinary work. A unique and valuable book, strongly recommended.

- W.P. Hogan

An incredibly detailed documentation of western theory and practice of humanity’s relationship with nature and especially with animals.

- Diane Baltaz