Fittingness and Environmental Ethics

This book examines how the concept of fittingness enriches environmental ethics, emphasizing its role in ethical and aesthetic decision-making.

This volume explores the concept of 'fittingness' as an ethical-aesthetic idea, particularly its relevance to environmental ethics. It presents an innovative collection of contributions that argue fittingness is a crucial yet under-explored aspect of human ethical reasoning, encompassing both ethical and aesthetic dimensions. From architecture to social etiquette, individuals and communities often make decisions based on what is deemed 'fitting', which can also be described using terms like appropriateness, prudence, temperance, and mutuality.

In the context of environmental ethics, fittingness refers to the relationship between conscious, embodied beings and their environments. This relationship is essential for understanding how humans interact with the non-human world, influencing ethical decisions regarding environmental development and the treatment of non-human creatures. By focusing on fittingness, the book encourages a reevaluation of human connections to nature, promoting a lifestyle that respects and nurtures the planet's inherent qualities of fruitfulness, goodness, beauty, and truth.

Fittingness and Environmental Ethics ultimately argues that embracing the idea of fittingness can lead to more thoughtful and sustainable interactions with our environment. This perspective not only enhances ethical deliberation but also enriches our aesthetic appreciation of the world around us, fostering a deeper understanding of our place within it.