The disappearance of species, and more generally, the decline in diversity of life forms, has increased to such an extent that the current era has frequently been compared to one of the five episodes of massive extinction that have affected life on earth. Taking that alarming realization as its starting point, the book offers a philosophical analysis of this veritable crisis of biodiversity. It retraces the roots of the Western conception of diversity of life on earth, which has been an object of curiosity and fascination since Ancient Greek times, and which crystallized in the latter half of the 20th century around the concept of biodiversity. The author shows the range of realities this concept refers to and introduces a pluralist interpretation of the term bio-diversity. Lastly, in order to address the ethical problems posed by biodiversity, the author takes a new look at the issue of human societies’ relationship to their natural environment. Faced with a multiplicity of meanings and norms, a creative and participative approach to conservation policies needs to allow for a wider range of values to be taken into account, while at the same time doing justice to the pluralism inherent to our democratic societies.
What is biodiversity? Why should it be protected? These questions are essential to any consideration of the erosion of diversity of life forms. In order to answer them, Virginie Maris calls upon the history of science, epistemology and ethics, proposing a stimulating analysis of the problems confronting human societies today, problems that ultimately raise an even more fundamental question: what is our relationship to nature? Far from the instrumentalist answers of sustainable development and eco-systemic services management, the author invites us to conduct a veritable moral reappraisal of our relationship to life on earth, its diversity and its evolution.