Description
Book SynopsisFrom climate change to species extinction, and habitat loss to soil degradation, a stark awareness of the often devastating impacts of human actions is growing. People around the world are urgently seeking sustainable ways of life for themselves and their communities. But what do these calls for a sustainable future mean for our current values and ways of life, and what kind of people will we need to become? Though sustainability is a ubiquitous concept with a range of meaning and applications, this volume shows that it can be significantly understood and sought through the notion of virtue, in the tradition of virtue ethics. Approaches to ethical living that emphasize good character and virtue are resurgent, and especially well-suited to addressing our present challenges. From rethinking excessive consumption, to appropriately respecting nature, to finding resilience in the face of environmental injustice, our characters will be frequently tested. The virtues of sustainability--character traits enabling us to lead sustainable, flourishing lives--will be critical to our success.This volume, divided into three sections, brings together newly-commissioned essays by leading scholars from multiple disciplines--from philosophy and political science, to religious studies and psychology. The essays in the first section focus on key factors and structures that support the cultivation of the virtues of sustainability, while those in the second focus in particular on virtues embraced by non-Western communities and cultures, and the worldviews that underlie them. Finally, the essays in the third section each address further particular virtues of sustainability, including cooperativeness, patience, conscientiousness, creativity, and open-mindedness.Together, these essays provide readers with a rich understanding of the importance and diversity of the virtues of sustainability, and practical guidance towards their cultivation.
Trade ReviewThe reading becomes an invitation to ponder shared global challenges, and from this, further strategies to address these challenges can emerge. It is successful in offering both inspiration and consolation for the current uncertain times. * Alba Rodriguez, Religious Studies Review *
Table of ContentsSeries Editor's Foreword Introduction, Jason Kawall Part One: Cultivating Virtues of Sustainability Chapter 1: Virtue and sustainable behavior: A psychological perspective, Susan Clayton Chapter 2: The Environmental Psychology of Pro-Sustainability Virtues, Victor Corral-Verdugo, Martha Frías-Armenta & Anais Ortiz-Valdez Chapter 3: Aristotelian Virtue Education and Education for Sustainable Development: Prospects and Problems, Matt Ferkany Chapter 4: The Emotional Heart of Environmental Virtues, Cheryl Hall Part Two: Virtues, Sustainability, and Worldviews Chapter 5: Jain Dharma as a Virtue Ethics for Sustainability, Pankaj Jain Chapter 6: Respect for Nature: Learning from Indigenous Values, Christine J. Cuomo Part Three: Virtues of Sustainability Chapter 7: Cooperativeness as a Virtue of Sustainability, Laura M. Hartman Chapter 8: Patience and Sustainability, Jason Kawall Chapter 9: Treading Lightly: Conscientiousness, Information, and Ecological Impacts, Steve Vanderheiden Chapter 10: The Roles of Creativity and Open-Mindedness in Implementing Sustainable Solutions, Sarah Wright
