Thinking about Nature

abiotic agents animals argue basic behaviour biocentric biological causal Chapter characteristics claim competition complex conception concern constraints context context principle contractarian creatures deep ecology desk ecologists economic ecosystems entities environment environmental ethic example existence explanation fact forest frameworks freedom function Gaia hypothesis genetic given grey birch Harper and Townsend holism human nature idea identify individual interactions interests interspecific competition intrinsic involves issues kind leopard seal living things Lotka-Volterra equations mathematical matter maximise metaphysical models moral considerability natural selection natural systems notion ontological organisms Paramecium persons perspective philosophy physical plant political position principles problems protozoa question realised niche recognise reduction role Rolston sciences scientific ecology sense sentences set theory significant simply situation social society sociobiology sort structure suggested supervenient supervenient properties Suppose Taylor temperature tion tree utilitarian whole worth